Forgive our Trespasses

Pechstein joined Die Brücke in 1908 and found more immediate acceptance and success in the public realm than did his colleagues, due to the decorative, more conservative quality of his works. The flat washes of color found in his paintings are reflected in this woodcut, as are the narrow, elongated figures and sharp, blocky lines characteristic of the Expressionists. There is an implied spiritual element found in many of Pechstein's graphic works, as the figures are bent solemnly in prayer or, perhaps, mourning. At the outbreak of war, Pechstein had been traveling in the Palau Islands, and in 1914 was taken prisoner in Japan. After his release, he was drafted to the front lines in 1916.