“The Parents,” created by Kathe Kollwitz in 1919, is an evocative representation belonging to the Expressionism movement, notable for its portrayal within the portrait genre. The artwork, steeped in deep emotional resonance, illustrates two elderly figures seated side by side. Their facial expressions and body language convey a profound sense of sorrow and weariness, embodying the haunting themes of grief and suffering that were prevalent in much of Kollwitz’s work. The minimalist background focuses the viewer’s attention entirely on the parents, capturing the raw and poignant essence of human despair. Through her use of stark, gestural lines and shaded contours, Kollwitz masterfully conveys the weight of loss and the passage of time, characteristic of the Expressionist approach.
