The artwork “Peter Schlemihl’s Miraculous Story (title page)” created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1915 is a woodcut piece that falls within the Expressionism art movement. This illustration is part of the series “Peter Schlemihl’s Wundersame Geschichte” and is housed in the Kunstmuseum Basel, located in Basel, Switzerland.
In this striking woodcut, the composition is dominated by bold, angular shapes and vivid color contrasts, typical of Expressionist aesthetics. The title of the story takes a central place in the artwork, rendered in dramatic, uneven lettering that conveys a sense of intrigue and fantasy. Surrounding the text, abstract forms and fragmented faces suggest a surreal, dreamlike quality, emphasizing the fantastical and mysterious nature of the narrative. The use of bright yellows, deep reds, and stark blacks in the color palette enhances the emotive power of the piece, drawing the viewer into the enigmatic world of Peter Schlemihl.