The artwork titled “The People,” created by Kathe Kollwitz in 1922, is a significant piece from the Expressionism art movement. It belongs to the genre of genre painting and is part of the series “War.”
In the artwork, a collection of faces emerges from a stark black background. The expressions on these faces appear somber and pained, each etched with deep lines and shadows, evoking a sense of suffering and despair. The central face, rendered with a haunting intensity, is surrounded by others, which seem to merge into the darkness, highlighting a collective anguish. Below the faces, a hand and part of an arm extend forward, adding to the sense of human vulnerability and hardship that is evident in the piece. The use of monochromatic tones and strong, graphic lines typical of woodcuts emphasizes the emotional weight and the social commentary on the impacts of war.
