An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Mountain with Cattle1918
Artist: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
German, 1880–1938
abstract image of a green mountain with yellow, orange, and purple cows, with a shepherd in purple and yellow in LRQ; blue river in a U ship around mountain; purple mountains around central green mountain; green pine trees in LRC; second abstracted figure in LRC; received in black and gilt frame
46 3/4 × 58 3/4 in. (118.7 × 149.2 cm) (sight)
55 1/4 × 67 1/2 × 1 15/16 in. (140.3 × 171.5 × 4.9 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
Germany
20th century
The John R. Van Derlip Fund and gift of funds from Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad; purchase from the collection of Alfred and Ingrid Lenz Harrison
In a serene corner of the Swiss Alps, the world unfurls like a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of color and life. Here, German painter Ernst Kirchner invites us into a tranquil scene, one viewed from above, where a herd of cattle grazes blissfully on the lush, hilly green terrain. Each form below—the cows, a diligent farmer, an adventurous mountaineer, the shimmering stream, and the jagged trees—takes on an abstract quality, painted with strokes that breathe the essence of nature itself.
This beautiful landscape came to life during a pivotal moment in Kirchner's own journey. Not long before, he had fled the turmoil of Germany, seeking solace and healing in the embrace of Switzerland’s majestic mountains. The dark shadows of war loomed heavy over his past; he had endured a mental crisis and physical collapse while serving as an artillery driver in World War I. The pain drove him deeper into the embrace of addiction, yet it was in this peaceful land that he began to piece himself back together.
As we gaze upon the artwork, the vibrant hues reflect his newfound perspective. Kirchner, struggling yet yearning for clarity, discovered something profound in nature that summer. He once commented on this experience, “Down below in the valley, the cabins stand out in the boldest Paris blue against the yellow fields. For the first time here, one really gets to know the worth of individual colors. And, in the bargain, the stark monumentality of the rows of mountains.”
In this colorful scene, one can almost feel the gentle breeze that carries whispers of recovery and renewal. The vivid purples and pinks of the towering peaks stand sentinel, a reminder of hope that the artist found in this fragile yet breathtaking moment. Kirchner's painting is not just a landscape; it is a sanctuary, a testament to his resilience, and an invitation for us to pause and appreciate the soothing rhythms of nature that can heal even the most wounded souls.
About the artist
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