Portrait of Poet Albert Ehrenstein

Portrait of Poet Albert Ehrenstein is among Kokoschka’s paramount portraits seeking to depict the psyche and emotions of the model. Moreover, Kokoschka implemented new forms of style typical primarily for the years 1913-1914. His abrupt brushstrokes underlined and highlighted the main features of the garment and reduced the colours into blue, green, and cream tones. The diagonal composition and certain deformation are typical also for the further works by this artist during the same period of time. Albert Ehrenstein, who was one of the first to pursue the work by Franz Kafka, was Kokoschka’s favourite poet; the two established a friendly relationship.