The artwork, titled “The Missionary,” was created by Emil Nolde in 1912. It belongs to the Expressionism art movement and is characterized as a symbolic painting.
In the artwork, three distinct figures are depicted set against a yellow background. On the left, a red-faced figure with exaggerated facial features wears a black outfit and a wide-brimmed hat, holding a white scroll in both hands. To the right, a masked face hangs suspended in the air. Central to the piece is another figure, adorned in a striped garment, appearing to be in animated conversation or confrontation with the figure on the left. A smaller figure, possibly a child, is partially draped in the same striped garment, closely clutching the central figure. The painting’s bold use of colors and distorted shapes are emblematic of Nolde’s expressionist style, invoking a profound sense of symbolism and emotional intensity.
