Artist Database

German artist Käthe Kollwitz was a German artist known for her powerful portrayals of human suffering and social injustice. Born in 1867 in Königsberg (present day Kaliningrad, Russia), she studied art in Berlin and Munich, later focusing on printmaking after being influenced by fellow artist Max Klinger. Working in painting, printmaking, and sculpture, Kollwitz depicted themes of poverty, motherhood, and war with profound emotional intensity. Her art, which often included self-portraits, gave voice to the struggles of women and the working class. Kollwitz’s works are held in major international collections such as the Käthe Kollwitz Museums in Berlin and Cologne, The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC.