This is a drawing of stylized geometric figures in a patterned composition. The page is from a book and features a poem titled "Simson" written in German. Below the poem, there is an illustrative drawing that accompanies the poem. The illustration depicts abstract, angular figures with sharp edges and geometric patterns. The central figure appears to be wearing a stylized robe with a diamond pattern and a headpiece, standing amid abstract shapes and forms that suggest architectural or furniture elements in the background. The overall style of the drawing is expressionistic, reminiscent of…
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Simson (in-text plate) from mock-up of Georg Heym: Umbra Vitae (Georg Heym: Shadow of Life)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (German, 1880 - 1938)

and author Georg Heym (German, born Poland, 1887 - 1912)

printer Spamersche Buchdruckerei, Leipzig

publisher Kurt Wolff (German, 1887 - 1963)

1912/1922

Medium
woodcut from a bound volume with 51 woodcuts (including cover and front and back endpapers) on wove paper
Classification
Volume
Dimensions
book: 21.7 × 14.5 × 1.3 cm (8 9/16 × 5 11/16 × 1/2 in.)
Culture
German
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CG-W
Credit line
Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art