Japanese Theatre
painter: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (German, 1880-1938)

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Alternative Title
Japanisches Theater
Date
1909Description
This is one of Kirchner's first paintings to depict a stage scene. It shows actors from a Japanese theatre company performing at Dresden's Albert Theatre. Theatre and cabaret scenes were extremely popular among the Brücke expressionist group. The artist's unusual viewpoint, looking down on the actors from a side angle, suggests that he may have seen the play from a theatre box. Kirchner saw an exhibition of Matisse paintings in December 1908, and this painting shows the influence of Matisse's flat areas of anti-naturalistic colour. full view
Type of Work
Oil paintingSubject
Japanese, Theaters, Expressionism (Art), Brücke (Artists’ group), Painting, German --20th century, Art, German --20th century
Rights
Rights Statement
In the Public Domain; no use restrictions
Item is Part of
139458