Guiding Questions for KIRCHNER’S Self Portrait as Soldier

  • Where is this soldier (Kirchner) standing? (setting)

  • What did the manifesto of Die Brücke read?

  • Die Brücke means The Bridge - How did the name of this group of artists that Kirchner was a part of connect with the work of German philosopher Nietzsche? Why did they choose this name for their group?

  • How does Kirchner’s painting style (and this painting, in particular) reflect a style of “primitivism”?

  • During what part of his life did Kirchner paint this? What had just happened to him?

  • Did Kirchner actually have this hand amputated?

  • What exhibition was Kirchner’s work forcibly made a part of in 1937? How did this impact him?