kathe kollwitz

Kathe Kollwitz
Kathe Kollwitz was born in 1867 and died in 1945. She was a powerful, intense artist who
produced works of great tenderness. Her two artworks 'Woman with dead child' and
'Unemployment' revel the suffering of humanity and social working class.
Kathe Kollwitz was greatly influenced by the hardships of humanity, her main subjects being body
language, distortion, death and human vulnerability, as well as fleeting joys. She also focused on
social problems with city life, such as prostitution and unemployment and the suffering of the
German working class. She was facinated by working class women and depicted them as persons
of character, strength and responsibility. The suffering of humanity is well depicted in Kollwitz'
artwork, 'Woman with dead child' because the mother's face is hidden, showing deep sorrow. The
two are entangled in eachother, almost as if they are one being.
Kollwitz' work has a combined depth of emotion revealing intamicy and drama of individual
human relationships with direct social comment. It is neither sentimental nor abstract. She depicts
women as more than just objects of beauty. Kollwitz uses body language and expressive linework.
A good example of this is in 'Unemployment'. She uses facial expressions and emotional links
between the figures. There is heavy linework and shadow used on the father that sets him apart
from his family, as if he can't face the responsibilites. Kollwitz has the action close to the viewer
to create intimacy and reveals sensitive handling of light and form through skillful handling of
printmaking medium. She varies thickness of lines for expressive purposes and has a subtle
handling of the soft ground etching technique. Kollwitz uses pure printmaking such as
lithography, woodcuts and etching, and has a mixed technique because of her dramatic interplay
of light to focus on facial features and emotions.
The suffering of humanity is revealed in Kollwitz' artwork, 'Woman with dead child'. It is a highly
emotional piece. The way the mother clutches her child, in a tight embrace, not wanting to release
the tie between them. It is very touching and a sympathetic piece. The artwork was comlpeted in
1903 on soft etching with engraving overprinted with a gold tone plate. Tone and expressive
linework add to the emotional impact, as well as its visual impact. There are alot of grey areas
highlighting the darkness and emptyness felt by the mother. The images are close up and large to
excentuate the suffering and sadness.
Kollwitz' artwork 'Unemployment' was completed in 1909 on etching, soft ground using drypoint,
aquatint and burnishing. The artwork is symbolic of the social problems of the period. It shows the

despair of the poor and the resultant family pressures unemployment causes. Using light very
dramatically Kollwitz focuses on facial expressions and emotional links between the figures.
Heavy linework and shadow are used well to set the father apart from his family. Tone and line are
dramatically used to highlight despair and family pressures. Facial expressions are claer and it is
evident that the family is distraught.
In conclusion Kathe Kollwitz is an important artist who's work is was greatly influenced by her
surroundings. She was very in touch with her emotions and her work reflects that. The hardships
of humanity were her maun focus. The suffering and social problems experienced by the German
working class is revealed in her artworks.