Max Pechstein, Head of a Fisherman, IX, 1921 by Atelier Liesjes

A powerful, close-up portrait of an elderly fisherman wearing a cap (or hat) in an angular, primitive style. The face fills almost the entire space: large, staring eyes, a long, full beard, prominent nose and an open mouth with a straight line. The contours are thick and sharp, with heavy black lines and planes that make the face angular and mask-like. The cap has a wide brim, the beard is stylised as vertical stripes. Everything is in pure black on white (high contrast), with a rough, woodcut texture; signed 'HMP' and 'H.M. Pechstein'.
Meaning This is No. IX from Pechstein's series "Fischerköpfe" (11 woodcuts of fishermen's heads) from 1921, created during his stays on the Baltic Sea (e.g. Nidden/Leba). The fisherman symbolises raw, authentic humanity, wisdom and the hard work of coastal life – themes of vitality and primitivism that Pechstein rediscovered after the First World War and his time with Die Brücke. The mask-like face evokes African/Oceanic influences, with an expression of inner strength and stoicism. In the context of 1921 (Weimar period), it celebrates the simplicity of the people and the human condition. Technique
Woodcut: traditional graphic technique using carved woodblocks for deep black areas and white lines. Rough, expressive cuts give an angular, primitive texture and high contrast; typical of Pechstein's graphic work in the 1920s – inspired by Brücke woodcuts, with a focus on emotion and direct power over detail.

Hermann Max Pechstein (Zwickau, 31 December 1881 – Berlin, 29 June 1955) was a painter from Germany. Pechstein is considered an important representative of Expressionism. In 1918, after the First World War, Pechstein co-founded the Arbeitsrat für Kunst (Workers' Council for Art) and in 1922 he became a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts.