Read the visual description
The image displays dynamic and erratic lines forming an intricate pattern suggesting movement. The shapes appear to merge a horse and a human figure, intertwining to create fluidity. The human form leans over the horse with outstretched limbs. In the background, linear shapes hint at spectators or an audience. The composition blends familiar elements into a stylized scene challenging traditional representations.
National Gallery of Art · Print
Acrobat on a Horse (Voltigeuse zu Pferd)
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
- Date
- 1913
- Medium
- drypoint on blotting paper
- Dimensions
- plate: 19.9 x 25.5 cm (7 13/16 x 10 1/16 in.) sheet: 42 x 39.2 cm (16 9/16 x 15 7/16 in.)
- Classification
- Accession number
- 1987.47.1
- Credit line
- Ruth and Jacob Kainen Collection
- Time span
- 1901 to 1925
- Department
- CG-W
Subjects and terms
- German
- occupation
- genre
- drypoint
- Acrobat
Provenance
Kirchner estate (L.Supp.1570b annotated R 152). (Galerie Kornfeld, Bern, June 20-21, 1973 lot 397); unidentified private collection; (Wolfgang Wittrock Kunsthandel, Düsseldorf); Ruth Cole Kainen [1922-2009], Washington, D.C. (Lugt 4740), purchased August 1, 1979; gift to NGA, 1986.
Inscription
lower right below plate mark in graphite: E LKirchner; by later hand, lower left bottom in blue crayon: 152; by later hand, lower left bottom in graphite: Sch I. 152. KN.(M.) Voltigeuse zu Pferd 1909-13; all inscriptions on verso by later hand, lLv//in graphite: K 9 518 9275; lRv//in blue ink: 139.; lRv//in graphite: 22321
NGA object ID 70156. 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.