“Papuan youth” is a work created by Emil Nolde in 1914, representing the Expressionism art movement and classified as a genre painting. This artwork depicts the image of native youths against a backdrop that suggests a tumultuous seascape. The composition features two figures, distinctly styled with exaggerated features and vibrant colors characteristic of the Expressionist approach, which sought to evoke emotion rather than to replicate reality accurately.
In the image, we view two individuals who appear to be young. The background consists of waves rendered in a series of dark and white hues, creating the impression of a churning sea. The figure on the left is seated and staring forward with notable red marks on their cheeks, which could be decorative or cultural in nature. The figure on the right is reclined, supported by their arms, and looking back towards the other individual. Their facial expression seems to capture an intense or contemplative moment. The color palette is rich and earthy, with deep browns and reds dominating the figures, while the sea is portrayed with darker, more muted tones, sharply contrasted by the white of the crests of the waves. The brushwork is loose and dynamic, allowing the emotional charge of the scene to take center stage over detailed realism.
