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Lot Essay
This work is listed in the Ernst Ludwig Kirchner archives, Wichtrach/Bern.
Kirchner painted this portrait of a farmer’s wife during his stay in Davos. In 1917, he moved to Switzerland to a small village called Frauenkirch, near Davos. To isolate himself further, he rented a cottage in the close-by mountain region, called Stafelalp. He was fascinated by mountain life and created a series of works depicting the ordinary life of the mountain farmers during this time, some captured in groups during their daily chores, others in form of individual portraits, as is the present work. The farmer’s wife is presented in an unadorned way, slightly turned to the left side. Kirchner fills the paper with strong and bold brushstrokes, and intentionally uses a yellow background and purple clothing to support and emphasise the sitter's direct effect on the viewer. He highlights the woman’s face with few scattered red tones.
In the beginning, Kirchner’s time in Switzerland was strongly affected by health issues and the depression of his life partner Ema. Mountain life, however, gradually eased his mental state, and an increase in sales created a foundation for his further success and financial independence. In a letter to van de Velde, Kirchner comments on his positive state of mind: 'I am so happy and grateful to be and stay here' (E.W. Kornfeld, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: Dresden Berlin Davos, Bern, 1979, p. 148).
Kirchner painted this portrait of a farmer’s wife during his stay in Davos. In 1917, he moved to Switzerland to a small village called Frauenkirch, near Davos. To isolate himself further, he rented a cottage in the close-by mountain region, called Stafelalp. He was fascinated by mountain life and created a series of works depicting the ordinary life of the mountain farmers during this time, some captured in groups during their daily chores, others in form of individual portraits, as is the present work. The farmer’s wife is presented in an unadorned way, slightly turned to the left side. Kirchner fills the paper with strong and bold brushstrokes, and intentionally uses a yellow background and purple clothing to support and emphasise the sitter's direct effect on the viewer. He highlights the woman’s face with few scattered red tones.
In the beginning, Kirchner’s time in Switzerland was strongly affected by health issues and the depression of his life partner Ema. Mountain life, however, gradually eased his mental state, and an increase in sales created a foundation for his further success and financial independence. In a letter to van de Velde, Kirchner comments on his positive state of mind: 'I am so happy and grateful to be and stay here' (E.W. Kornfeld, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: Dresden Berlin Davos, Bern, 1979, p. 148).