The End

Käthe Kollwitz’s painting The End powerfully captures themes of suffering and despair, reflecting her focus on the hardships faced by the working class. Though Kollwitz was renowned for her work with etching and aquatint, this piece exemplifies her mastery in using paper for emotional impact. Her style evolved from genre painting to Expressionism, emphasizing raw, visceral emotion. The End thus embodies her commitment to realism and social commentary, resonating with her groundbreaking role as the first woman elected to the Prussian Academy of Arts.