The document discusses the works of two early 20th century German artists, Paula Modersohn-Becker and Käthe Kollwitz. It describes several of Modersohn-Becker's self-portraits and paintings of peasants, questioning why she chose these subject matters and whether her style captured expressionism. Kollwitz's works portraying poverty, weavers, and the human toll of war are also examined. Her woodcut series "The Mothers and the War" depicts the anguish of women who lost their sons to WWI, targeting those affected by the conflict.

1. Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907) Paula Modersohn-Becker Self Portrait , 1906. Oil on canvas. 62 x 48cm.

2. Paula Modersohn-Becker, Old peasant woman , 1905, Oil on canvas. 75x57cm Paula Modersohn-Becker, Mother and Child Lying Nude , 1907. Describe the subject matter used by Modersohn-Becker in each of these paintings. Why do you think that the artist would be concerned with this particular subject matter?

3. Self Portrait with Twig of Camellia (1907) Consider the style of Modersohn-Becker’s art. What influences can you see? Present an argument with THREE points that explain whether you feel that she has or has not successfully captured an expressionist style within her work? Self-Portrait on Her Fifth Wedding Anniversary , 1906 Oil on canvas

4. Portrait of Rainer Maria Rilke , 1906 Portrait of Clara Rilke Westhoff (n.d.) Other works by Modersohn-Becker Self-portrait , 1902 Self-portrait , 1906-7 Nursing Mother , 1902

5. Kathe Kollwitz (1867 - 1945) Kathe Kollwitz, Poverty , 1897, Lithogragh.

6. Kathe Kollwitz, March of the Weavers (c.1897) Consider this work and the following work, what is the subject matter that is being portrayed in these works? Do you think that it is important for an artist like Kollwitz to provide a ‘voice’ for the people that you see in these works? What reaction would you expect to have come from the viewing public?

7. Riot , 1897

9. Kathe Kollwitz, Mother with dead child , 1903, Etching. Kathe Kollwitz, Woman and Death, 1910, Etching and sandpaper aquatint. What other artist have we briefly looked at who’s style seems similar in regards the utter sense of human anguish? Explain who you think the ‘target audience’ of this work is? What makes you think so?

10. Kathe Kollwitz, The Survivors, 1923, Lithograph. Describe TWO iconographic motifs within this work. What do you think these mean?

11. Kathe Kollwitz, The Volunteers c.1922-23. Kathe Kollwitz, The Parents. C.1922-23 The Mothers and the War , 1922-23. woodcut. Describe the style of Kollwitz’s woodcut series here. How is it different to the style of woodcuts being done by Die Brucke artists? Describe the social/political context from which this work was derived. Explain why Kollwitz has chosen to depict the subject matter the way she has. Who is the target audience? What makes you think this?