Provenance

The artist’s estate (up until 1958)

Private collection, Stuttgart

Galerie Utermann, Dortmund

Private collection, South America

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner „Reiter auf scheuendem Pferd“ H1

Dynamic and expression – H2

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s ‘ Reiter auf scheuendem Pferd vor roten Häusern’ portrays a rider in a green uniform on a shying, black and grey horse, which rears up in a dramatic movement. The scene is set against a backdrop of red houses which, in combination with the energetic, diagonal lines, creates a restless, tense atmosphere. Sharp contrasts and expressive distortions of form emphasise the feeling of instability and uncertainty.

Kirchner uses a type of style typical of Expressionism: the rearing horse is depicted with simplified, angular forms and rough contours. The colours are strongly contrasting and appear to have been chosen independently of a natural light source. The proportions of the horse and its surroundings are devoid of any realistic dimension.

Historical context: Kirchner and the First World War -H2

The year 1915 marked a decisive phase in Kirchner’s life. He volunteered for military service, but soon had to resign due to a nervous breakdown. The First World War left deep traces in his work – fear, unrest and existential threat are reflected in his compositions. The depiction of the bucking horse and the clinging rider metaphorically hints at the instability and chaos of war. The distorted perspective and the contrasting colours further emphasise this feeling. Kirchner’s horseman does not appear confident of victory or heroic, on the contrary fragile and lost – an expression of the fears that accompanied the artist during this time. The dramatic movement of the horse make the artist’s inner turmoil palpable.

Significance -H2

The work is therefore not only a testimony to expressionist art, but also a deeply personal document of Kirchner in a difficult time!