The artwork, titled “Self-portrait,” was created by the artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner between 1937 and 1938. Employing chalk as his medium, Kirchner produced this piece in the style of Expressionism. It measures 47.5 x 34 cm and falls under the genre of self-portraits.
In the artwork, Kirchner has employed a minimalistic approach using chalk to depict his features. The strokes appear both deliberate and sparse, capturing the essence of his facial structure and mood. Shadows and highlights are elaborately used to delineate his expression, focusing attention on the subject. The background is subtly sketched, suggesting elements without detracting from the central figure. This self-portrait exudes a raw introspective quality, characteristic of the Expressionism movement, reflecting the artist’s internal emotions and self-perception during this period.