“The Prisoners” is a notable artwork by Käthe Kollwitz, created in 1908. This work is executed through the mediums of engraving and etching on paper and is categorized under the Expressionism movement. It forms part of the genre painting tradition and is included in Kollwitz’s series “A Weavers’ Revolt.” Currently, the artwork resides in the British Museum in London, United Kingdom.
The artwork captures a poignant moment of collective despair and solidarity. It depicts a group of individuals closely bound together, appearing to be in a state of confinement or arrest. The figures, with their varied expressions of distress, resignation, and anguish, are rendered with profound emotional depth, a hallmark of Kollwitz’s expressionist style. The use of heavy lines and stark contrasts enhances the impact of this scene, emphasizing the psychological intensity and the harsh reality the subjects are facing. The visceral depiction of human suffering and the social critique inherent in the piece are reflective of the themes prominent within the “A Weavers’ Revolt” series, which Kollwitz used to highlight issues of social injustice and human struggle.
