Ernst Ludwig Kirchner — Zwei Köpfe (Galerie Aktuaryus)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (Aschaffenburg 1880 – 1938 Davos) is one of the most significant representatives of German Expressionism and a founding member of the legendary artists' group Die Brücke. His radical formal language, his bold use of line and colour, and his uncompromising artistic vision shaped an entire epoch of European modernism.

This pen and ink drawing, Zwei Köpfe, im Profil nach links (Two Heads, in Profile Facing Left), dated 1927, is a preparatory design for the coloured woodcut of the same title, which was printed on the cover of the catalogue for Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's graphic exhibition at the Galerie Aktuaryus in Zurich, held from 10 June to 12 July 1927.

The drawing captures two heads in sharp left-facing profile — rendered with the rapid, assured strokes that are characteristic of Kirchner's mature draughtsmanship. There is an immediacy to the line that speaks of both spontaneity and mastery: each mark is deliberate yet free, distilling the essence of form without recourse to detail. The inscription 'Galerie Aktuaryus' at the top of the sheet anchors the work firmly within its historical context.

The Galerie Aktuaryus, located at Bahnhofstrasse 62 in Zurich, was one of the most progressive galleries in Switzerland during the interwar period, exhibiting works by leading figures of the European avant-garde. This drawing is therefore not merely a study — it is a document of the cultural exchange between the Swiss art world and the German Expressionist movement at a pivotal moment in art history.

A rare and historically significant work on paper, combining artistic excellence with impeccable provenance.

Provenance & Details