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One of Käthe Kollwitz’s most powerful prints is “Sharpening the Scythe,“ in which an elderly peasant woman grips the blade of her farming tool, preparing it not for cutting crops, but to take part in a revolt. In this short, animated video, watch how Kollwitz arrived at this potent image using her confidence as a draftsman and printmaker. Kollwitz develops entire compositions through many revisions and then abandons them, along the way deepening her focus on the woman and intensifying her emotion and strength. As she works, we sense her resistance to tropes (the male figure helping the woman, for example), searching for the work of art that will send the clearest message. You can see the different editions of this print in person in the exhibition Käthe Kollwitz, on view at MoMA March 31–July 20, 2024. Subscribe for our latest videos, and invitations to live events: Explore our collection online: Plan your visit in-person: Commit to art and ideas. Support MoMA by becoming a member today: The comments and opinions expressed in this video are those of the speaker alone, and do not represent the views of The Museum of Modern Art, its personnel, or any artist. #drawing #printmaking #creativeprocess #animation #kathekollwitz #kollwitz #art #museumofmodernart #moma #museum #modernart
