After reviewing Lecture Please answer the following questions.

Kathe Kollwitz, The Parents, plate3 (left), The Mothers, Plate6 (Right) from War series (Krieg) War portfolio of 1921–2.

How does Kollwitz portray the aftermath of war in these examples? Describe how line enhances the emotional quality of these images? What themes are present?

Assignment 1

Question 1
Kathe Kollwitz portrays the aftermath of war in numerous ways in her examples. First,
she portrays women as people who are in unity even in times of sorrow. In her series, The
Mothers, she presents a moving image where a group of grieving mothers is huddled together
(Illustration Chronicles, 2016). It is vital to acknowledge that huddling together is not an
accident, and their bodies form the shape of a tombstone. Here, Kollwitz only helps us recognize
the importance of solidarity among people during difficult times (Illustration Chronicles, 2016).
Additionally, Kollwitz portrays the aftermath of the war to disclose the forms of injustices
experienced by the people and uses some of her images.
Question 2
A critical examination of the images of Kollwitz images indicates that most of them had
lines. Notably, the use of lines was crucial in enhancing the emotional quality of the images.
First, the lines are soft, which greatly depicts what emotions entail. It is vital to acknowledge that
softness is an integral part of emotions, and thus the lines help improve the images’ emotional
quality. Additionally, the lines are flowing, which gives the audience the impression of elegance
and femininity.
Question 3
Kollwitz’s images present different themes, including solidarity, which is evident when
grieving women are tied together. Also, solidarity is evident when men who participated in war
are tied together, awaiting orders from their superiors (Illustration Chronicles, 2016). The other
theme evident in the images is the theme of injustice. It is worth noting that the authorities
exploited the victims of war, and they lived in extreme poverty. Additionally, some images also

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depict weak and malnourished people who need to eat and become strong and healthy, and this
helps explain the theme of hunger.

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Reference

Illustration Chronicles (2016). War and compassion: The art of Kathe Kollwitz.
https://illustrationchronicles.com/war-and-compassion-the-art-of-kathe-kollwitz