Homage to Kathe Kollwitz is my tribute to one of my all time favorite master drawers, accomplished sculptor and printmaker. Kollwitz (1867-1945) made many self portraits throughout her life. This painting is inspired by Self-Portrait while Drawing from 1933. Completed when she was sixty six years old. I love the motif of this particular self portrait- in the process of drawing with a tiny stick of charcoal. In her hand, what an emphatic weapon it became during her creative toil against the political oppression and brutality of her time. And, I think, beyond her time.
More about Homage to Kathe Kollwitz
My technical approach here was to try to celebrate the expressive sketchiness of her drawing. Also, I wanted to keep to a sombre color palette corresponding to the monochrome original.
