Bathers at Moritzburg
- Artist: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
- Date: 1909–26
- Medium: Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 1511 x 1997 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
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About this artwork
This is the "Bathers at Moritzburg" by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Painted between 1909 and 1926, it’s an oil on canvas that captures a secluded woodland scene by the Moritzburg ponds near Dresden. Kirchner and his Brücke comrades—who were all about rejecting tradition and championing a communal, nature‑centric way of life—bring the scene to life with vibrant, expressive strokes. The figures, a mix of friends and models, are in various bathing poses, showcasing the artist’s interest in bodily freedom and natural harmony. The canvas was later over‑painted in the 1920s, giving the colours a softer, almost “ice‑cream” quality. While the Brücke movement’s ideas about renewal and communal living were revolutionary, they were later co‑opted by right‑wing ideologues, a dark twist that adds a layer of historical context to this otherwise joyful scene. It remains a striking example of early 20th‑century German expressionism.
See it in person
Bathers at Moritzburg is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
