The artwork, titled “Misery,” is a lithograph on paper created by Kathe Kollwitz between the years 1893 and 1897. It belongs to the art movement known as Expressionism and falls under the genre of genre painting. This piece is part of the series “A Weavers’ Revolt.”
The artwork portrays a somber scene, capturing the essence of despair and hardship within a domestic setting. The composition features a woman hunched over, her face buried in her hands, embodying the intense emotional turmoil suggested by the title “Misery.” Additional figures in the background add to the narrative, emphasizing a communal suffering. The dark, textured lines and the stark contrast between light and shadow further intensify the atmosphere of gloom and melancholy. The expression of collective human suffering prevalent during the weaver’s revolt period is poignantly encapsulated in Kollwitz’s poignant and evocative illustration.
