Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was born in Germany in 1880 and is recognised as a leading figure in the development of German Expressionism. A founding member of the influential artist group Die Brücke (The Bridge), Kirchner played a pivotal role in shaping modernist art in early twentieth century Europe.

Die Brücke’s manifesto of 1906 declared that ‘we want to achieve freedom of life and action against the well-established older forces’. While determined to be resolutely bold and modern in their approach to art, the group also respected and drew influence from the art of the past. The meaning of their name, ‘The Bridge’, symbolised this fusion of old and new in their shared artistic vision.

Kirchner worked across multiple disciplines and fused influences of folk art and contemporary bohemian life. Characterised by his depth of colour and a desire to break free from the traditional confines of art, Kirchner’s work vividly captures the tension and liberation from this challenging time in his young life. Today, he is celebrated for his innovative style and lasting contribution to German Expressionism.

Officer and waitress is a compelling painting created during a deeply formative period in Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s life and career. Painted during a time of convalescence after his release from military service in 1915, the work reflects the inner world of the artist and his experience of the First World War.

Depicting a lunch celebrating his departure from military life, the soldier with his back to the viewer at the left of Kirchner’s painting is considered to be Hans Fehr, the riding instructor credited for instigating Kirchner’s discharge from active service. Fehr, also a professor and patron of several artists of the period, has invited Kirchner to enjoy a meal celebrating his release, which is being delivered by a white-capped and aproned waitress. At the right of the composition, Kirchner himself enters through a doorway. 

The composition invites viewers into Kirchner’s personal experience, offering a poignant lens through which to consider the upheavals of early twentieth century Europe. Officer and waitress, showcases the expressive forms characteristic of German Expressionism, with its uplifting green and violet palette, and celebrates, for a brief moment, Kirchner’s liberation from this challenging time in his young life.

In the years that followed, Kirchner’s work and that of fellow German Expressionists was condemned by the Nazi regime, labelled a ‘degenerate artist’, and many of his paintings were tragically lost during the Second World War.