Mädchen und Kind (Girl and Child)
Work on paper, drawing/painting with gouache • Attributed to Karl Schmidt-Rottluff or the Die Brücke school
Style & Movement
German Expressionism (Die Brücke)
Medium & Technique
Gouache or watercolor with likely charcoal or graphite underdrawing on heavy paper
Creation Period
Circa 1910-1925
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 50 x 40 cm (visual area). Portrait format.
Subject Description
A Double portrait featuring a stylistically rendered woman/girl and a small child. The figures are characterized by high-contrast colors, simplified facial features, and bold, black outlines typical of Expressionist woodcut aesthetics. The child has pink-red cheeks and a rounded face, while the elder figure behind is rendered with more angular shadows.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (considering age). Visible slight yellowing of the paper support and possible fading of colors.
Estimated Market Value
$40,000 - $80,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$35,000 - $65,000 USD
Provenance History
The photo is taken in front of Ketterer Kunst, a leading auction house for German Expressionism, suggesting a recent acquisition or consignment from a private European collection.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of the Die Brücke movement's focus on raw emotion and simplified form. Schmidt-Rottluff was a founding member, and his works on paper are essential to understanding the development of early 20th-century modernism in Germany.
Notable Features
Bold application of color and large, expressive eyes. The compositional arrangement suggests an intimate, familial bond, common in the more domestic subjects of the Brücke artists.
Condition Issues
Possible light-strike (fading from UV exposure), minor undulations in the paper, and edge-toning beneath the matting.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be housed behind Museum Glass (UV protection). Keep in a climate-controlled environment with low humidity and limited light exposure.