Rediscover Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: The autumn exhibition "Expression in Line and Color" shines a light on his drawings, pastels and watercolors - works full of spontaneity, energy and inner movement.
We are familiar with Kirchner's monumental oil paintings, their garish colors and expressive power. But a less illuminated, central facet of his oeuvre is revealed on paper: in drawing, pastel and watercolor. The autumn exhibition "Expression in Line and Color" is dedicated to this essential phase of his work and shows around 150 works from the museum's rich collection of around 900 sheets. It provides an intensive look at the development of these media in Kirchner's hand - from the early "Brücke" years to the late Davos works.
The focus is on the colorful works on paper, especially the watercolor, which for Kirchner was far more than a mere medium of study. In his hands, it became an independent medium of expression - light, flowing and of immediate vitality. While the oil paintings impress with their impasto color and physical presence, the watercolor lives from the breath of the line, the shimmer of transparent layers of paint and the movement of the moment.
Thematically, the exhibition leads through Kirchner's artistic world: the human body, the urban scene, the landscape and the Davos surroundings. Every line, every trace of color tells of his perception, his temperament and his search for truthfulness. The intimate studies of his partner Erna Schilling are particularly impressive - delicate portraits that show closeness and emotional depth at the same time.
"Expression in Line and Color" thus opens up new, direct access to Kirchner's thoughts and feelings. It shows the artist as a master of line and light - and reveals that his supposedly quiet works on paper often carry the loudest voice.
October 5, 2025 January 4, 2026
