The artwork entitled “The Rhine Bridge” was created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1914. Utilizing oil on canvas as the medium, Kirchner composed this piece within the Expressionist movement. It measures 120.5 by 91 centimeters and is a cityscape, capturing an urban scene with vivid emotional depth and abstract deformation.
This cityscape vividly depicts the architectural elements of the bridge with dramatic, elongated forms. Dominated by towering vertical columns that converge towards a central vanishing point, the composition creates a dynamic sense of movement and tension. The vibrant palette, marked by stark contrasts and expressive brush strokes, evokes a sense of urgency and alters the conventional perceptions of the structure. Figures are seen strolling along the path, rendered in abstract forms that enhance the emotive atmosphere of the scene. The blue of the sky and the interplay of light and shadow further enrich the painting, encapsulating the vibrancy and tumultuous energy characteristic of early 20th-century Expressionism.