The Widow II, 1922 (published 1923)
Käthe Kollwitzexpand_more
Woodcut on Japan paperexpand_more
The Print and Drawing Seminar Fundexpand_more P.71.144
Not on Viewexpand_more
Käthe Kollwitz is remembered for her haunting scenes of suffering, especially the tragic consequences of poverty and disease among women and children. She was anti-war, anti-violence, and ultimately a believer in the triumph of the human spirit, and she skillfully used the graphic arts—prints, illustrations, posters—to promote her left-leaning social agenda. In her print cycle Krieg (War), Kollwitz exploited the woodcut’s stark graphic power to illustrate war’s tragic effect on wives, parents, and children left behind. Tied to no specific time or place, the heartrending images are both universal admonishments against war and personal memories of loss—her son Peter died in battle in 1914, two months after joining the German Army.
Details
- Title
- The Widow II
- Artist Life
- 1867–1945
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.71.144
- Provenance
- (Hauswedell); sold to MIA, 1971.
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Klipstein 181 VIIb/VIId; W.161
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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