Working Woman with Blue Shawl

Exhaustion and dignity meet in one direct, unsentimental portrait.

What to notice

Look at the downturned head and heavy blue shawl, then notice how the face still holds a strong presence despite the subdued pose.

Discover

Kollwitz focused on working people and social hardship, often using printmaking because it could reach a broad audience. Her empathy is carried through gesture rather than spectacle.