The first thing that drew me to Käthe Kollwitz’s work was the incredible depth of emotion she manages to convey in her work which mostly depicts the effects of war, hunger, and poverty on the German working class.

She was both a painter and sculptor, but her most well-known and impactful works convey themselves through printmaking – etching, lithography, and woodcut. Black and white with sketchy, seemingly aggressive lines, Kollwitz’s print portraits manage to convey volume while depicting a stripped-back version of her subjects. She does not ever-detail her prints, but gives only the most necessary information in order for her representation to be believable.

Her depictions of the figure prove an obvious depth of knowledge and understanding of the human body, but beyond that, she imbues her subjects with such strong emotions that surround each piece in a thick, palpable aura. Her skill with portraiture bleeds into her other scenes as well, such as The Weavers.

You can feel the movement of the figures, their purposeful march along the road, their downcast but determined expressions – the narrative of the scene rings through each detail. If I had to describe Käthe Kollwitz in one word, it would Believable and that is why I find it so hard to stop looking at her work.