Artist
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff 1884 – 1976

About the work
War-related events themselves never formed the subject of Schmidt-Rottluff ’s art, but the religious portrayals dating from between 1914 and 1919 are some of the most haunting examples of Expressionist art and represent the zenith of the artist’s oeuvre. This print constitutes a continuation of Gang nach Emmaus (Road to Emmaus; cat. no. 324). In the Gospel according to Luke, when the disciples reached Emmaus they realised that Jesus had risen again and was standing before them. In this portrayal, the tension is concentrated on the middle of the picture. As his disciple kneels humbly before the Messiah, processing the new knowledge with wide-open eyes, Christ hands him a chalice of wine. The raised arms and astonished mouth and eyes of the disciple sitting at the table indicate his surprise. Jesus is surrounded by a halo made up of parallel lines, which also illuminate the dark background in this moment of recognition.

Catalog raisonné
Schapire H 205