The artwork, titled “Gretchen,” was created by Kathe Kollwitz in 1899. It is part of the Expressionism movement and falls under the genre of portraiture.
The artwork depicts a solitary female figure, standing with her head bowed and arms crossed, evocatively capturing a sense of sorrow and introspection. Rendered in predominantly monochromatic tones, the figure is dressed in a long, simple gown, emphasizing the gravity of her stance and the emotional weight she bears. The artist’s use of stark lines and nuanced shading emphasizes the somber mood, capturing the raw emotion and complex inner state of the subject with poignant subtlety.
