Girl with a Cat (Mädchen mit Katze / Artist's Model)
Oil painting on canvas • Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Style & Movement
German Expressionism (Die Brücke)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas using expressive, gestural brushwork with bold, non-naturalistic color application and thick contour outlines.
Creation Period
1910
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 88.5 x 66 cm; Vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
A young woman, identified as the model Marcella, is depicted in a melancholic or pensive pose. She wears a striped dress and dark stockings, seated on a couch beside a white cat. The background features various bottles, suggesting an artist's studio environment. The composition uses dissonant greens, blues, and oranges to convey psychological tension.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (based on archival records of the original work). The image provided appears to be a printed reproduction, not the original canvas.
Estimated Market Value
$10,000,000 - $20,000,000 (estimation for the original masterwork)
Auction Estimate
$12,000,000 - $18,000,000 (for the original oil on canvas)
Provenance History
Originally part of Kirchner's studio; later in various private collections and museums. This specific image appears to be a post-war printed reproduction or book plate.
Art Historical Significance
A seminal work of the Die Brücke movement, representing Kirchner's fascination with domestic studio life and the psychological interiority of his models. It marks the transition to his more mature, jagged Expressionist style.
Notable Features
Distinguished by the 'v-shaped' facial features and heavy black outlines characteristic of the Dresden period of Kirchner's work; the white cat provides a stark tonal contrast to the dark sofa.
Condition Issues
The original painting has stable craquelure. The pictured object is a paper reproduction showing edge wear, slight creasing on the left side, and color shift typical of mass-printing.
Conservation Recommendations
For the original: UV-filtered glazing and climate-controlled environment. For this print: Acid-free mounting and protection from direct sunlight to prevent further fading.