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Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: Rheinbrücke in Köln

Rheinbrücke in Köln (Bridge over the Rhine in Cologne) is a painting by the German Expressionist painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, painted in 1914. It belongs to the artist's cycle of street scenes (1913 to 1915). It depicts the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, seen from Deutz, with a perspective of the towers of Cologne Cathedral. The painting accurately captures the perspective of the bridge with the cathedral in the background at the vanishing point. The bridge, which had been under construction for three years, had, before its partial destruction by retreating German troops in 1945, a side bridge reserved for automobile and pedestrian traffic next to the four-track railway bridge. It is on this pedestrian crossing, between the arches, that several figures are depicted: a woman wearing a light red garment with a matching hat; several men are outlined in the daylight. Since its reconstruction, the bridge has only been accessible to trains and pedestrians. The railway is visible on the right side with a steam locomotive. On the left side, several people can also be seen on the track. Kirchner himself describes his relationship with the dynamics of the big city as "ecstatic". Shortly before the First World War, the Rhine crossing near Cologne Cathedral was a necessary passage with heavy traffic. The old Cathedral Bridge was no longer sufficient to accommodate the traffic; therefore, a much larger bridge was built. The frenzy of the big city gave rise to Kirchner's nervous and summary style. The figures are depicted schematically. The symbolism of the present is shown in the narrowness of the metal construction with sharply angled arches. Kirchner shows how the puny figures are "subjected to the measure of technology." The sudden irruption of perspective, through the arches, brings the people to the foreground of the painting. The colors consist of fine Lavenders that are interwoven.

March 21st 2025

 

 
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