
Read the visual description
This is a drawing of a simplified human form amidst abstract shapes. The drawing features a minimalist representation of a body, sketched with fluid black lines, depicting the back of a figure. The figure is set against a backdrop of geometrically abstract elements, including a prominent triangle in the upper left corner and a curved form in the lower right. These abstract shapes are accented with dabs of blue color. The use of minimal lines suggests form while allowing broad interpretation. The strategic use of blue provides an aesthetic contrast to the monochrome sketching.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
Bather on the Beach
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
- Date
- 1912/1913
- Medium
- black crayon with blue and gray wash
- Dimensions
- overall: 43.4 x 31.8 cm (17 1/16 x 12 1/2 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 1983.6.1
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kainen in honor of Charles Parkhurst
- Time span
- 1901 to 1925
- Department
- CG-W
Subjects and terms
- amusement
- genre
- German
- Bathing
Provenance
Kirchner estate (Lugt 1570b, annotated: A Be/Bf 6). (Roman Norbert Ketterer, Lugano); Ruth Kainen, purchased October 31, 1979; gift to NGA, 1983.
Inscription
lower right in crayon: EL Kirchner
NGA object ID 61455. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.