Käthe Kollwitz

The Conceptual Framework and Artist

PracticeKäthe Kollwitz

Käthe Kollwitz

Kollwitz was a German painter, printmaker and sculptor. She was influenced by and lived through World War I and World War II, as well as the state of peasants and treatment of people in the 20th Century. She was brought up around her father painting the portraits of fishermen and peasants; this theme continued on in her work. She was influenced by Max Klinger, and Frans Masereel.

The Audience of Kollwitz work ranges from people involved in the war, family and friends who have lost people in the war. The theme of war is always present from early times until present; war has always been raging. Kollwitz wishes to express the side that is not explored often; the effect of war on the family and friends. Not only are the army officers affected after the war, with PTSD, but also the family. They lose people, sons, daughters and friends and this is something that everybody can relate to. Everybody has somebody that they care about and Kollwitz uses this to her advantage.

Kollwitz’s artworks consisted of paintings, etchings and sculptures. She wished to express the feelings and emotions of the era and subject matter that it contained. Specifically War and the effects of it on family and friends.

Kollwitz was born in Russia and later moved to Germany with her family, her brother and sisters were killed young which had a major impact on her life including an anxiety disorder. Her son was later to commence service in World War II and tragically die over there, Kollwitz was deeply affected by this and her works clearly came to show this. ‘The Grieving Parents’, was a memorial to Kollwitz' son Peter which came to reside in the War Cemetery of Vladslo in Germany. The noticeable series of works entitled ‘War’ included a collection of works dedicated to widowed wives and distraught mothers.

WORLD

ARTWORK

AUDIENCE ARTIST

Käthe Kollwitz

Artist Practice

Kollwitz worked with etching, sculpture and wood prints. She drew inspiration from the world around her and expressed her opinion and views of it through her work; one of the most predominate was the theme of War and loss. Kollwitz’s father recognised her talent at the young age of 12 and enrolled her for lessons in drawing and plaster work. At sixteen she began making drawings of the sailors and peasants she saw in her father's offices. Kollwitz’s art was affected by the deaths in her family and eventually the death of her son. This led her to explore her emotions, feelings and thoughts through her art. Sometimes the art would serve as a memorial such as with ‘The Grieving Parents’ and deep emotional expression in her ‘War’ series. Kollwitz worked in the medium of sculpture and woodcuts in this area. She would work from her heart and not plan many of her woodcut work: letting the emotions carve straight into the wood. The sculpture however was planned and executed carefully. Her technique is considered to be traditional.

Hollwitz’s work were strongly reminiscent of her experiences in life and aided by the use of a medium that helped convey an atmosphere that was sombre and full of death.

Käthe Kollwitz

Bibliographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A4the_Kollwitz

http://www.missomnimedia.com/2010/01/art-herstory-kathe-kollwitz/

http://www.yourdictionary.com/biography/kathe-kollwitz