"Street, Dresden", 1907, oil on canvas by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.


Describe the shapes in this painting. Are the shapes organic or geometric? Which ones? Describe how the shapes interact, or "touch" each other. Are the edges of the shapes soft or hard? Do they bump, blend, or overlap? Support your answers with specific examples.

As Writeacher told you, we don't do assignments like this. We'll be glad, though to help you on parts that you don't understand and will comment on your answers.

To describe the shapes in the painting "Street, Dresden" by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, we first need to analyze whether the shapes are organic or geometric.

Organic shapes are irregular, free-flowing, and natural-looking, whereas geometric shapes are mathematically defined and have sharp, straight lines.

Upon examining the painting, we can see a combination of both organic and geometric shapes. The overall composition of the painting consists of blocks of geometric shapes that depict the buildings, streets, and architectural elements. These shapes have defined edges and straight lines, reflecting the geometric nature of their real-world counterparts.

However, Kirchner used organic shapes to portray the human figures and natural elements present in the scene. For example, the figures walking on the street, the trees, and the patched clouds in the sky are all depicted using curvilinear and irregular shapes.

Regarding how the shapes interact or "touch" each other, we observe a variety of relationships within the painting. Some of the shapes overlap with each other, while others blend or bump together. For instance, if we look at the figures walking on the street, their shapes overlap with each other and with the shapes of the buildings. This overlapping creates a sense of depth and movement.

The edges of the shapes in the painting can be described as both soft and hard, depending on the specific elements being observed. The buildings and architectural features have crisp and defined edges, contributing to the overall geometric aesthetic. On the other hand, the shapes representing the figures and natural elements have softer, more fluid edges, adding a sense of organic energy to the painting.

In summary, "Street, Dresden" by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner features a combination of organic and geometric shapes. The geometric shapes depict the buildings and architectural elements, while the organic shapes represent the human figures and natural elements. The shapes interact through overlapping, blending, and some bumping. The edges of the shapes are both soft and hard, contributing to the overall composition and aesthetic of the painting.