Mädchenkopf

Erich Heckel

1920

Woodcut

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A black and white woodcut depicts a stylized portrait of a young woman's face, rendered with sharp angles and bold lines. The composition is dominated by the central facial features, with abstract shapes surrounding the head. In this stark woodcut, Erich Heckel shows his girlfriend and future wife Sidi Riha as she was convalescing from a long illness. The unguarded image reveals her physical and psychological hardship. Gallery Not on View The Miscellaneous Works of Art Purchase Fund