Background
The golden age of expressionism took place in a time (ca. 1908-1917) of historically important social and political upheaval. At this same time, the artistic world lived through the upheaval caused by the rise of nonrepresentational painting and atonal music. With the outbreak of the first World War and being drafted into the military, Kirchner found himself in a desperate situation, in which his troubled and self-destructive behaviour could only be relieved by psychiatric help and drugs. In these years, he worked relentlessly and created some of his most meaningful works.
At the time, dance was an experimental form of expression which was a recurring inspiration for Kirchner's creative works. His objective was to capture this fast movement with his drawing. These attempts to portray the movement itself as opposed to a still image from movement are apparent throughout his works.
The golden age of expressionism took place in a time (ca. 1908-1917) of historically important social and political upheaval. At this same time, the artistic world lived through the upheaval caused by the rise of nonrepresentational painting and atonal music. With the outbreak of the first World War and being drafted into the military, Kirchner found himself in a desperate situation, in which his troubled and self-destructive behaviour could only be relieved by psychiatric help and drugs. In these years, he worked relentlessly and created some of his most meaningful works.
At the time, dance was an experimental form of expression which was a recurring inspiration for Kirchner's creative works. His objective was to capture this fast movement with his drawing. These attempts to portray the movement itself as opposed to a still image from movement are apparent throughout his works.