To the Convalescent Woman (Triptych)

A founding member of the expressionist group Brücke, Heckel depicts his fiancée, the dancer Siddi Riha, propped up against pillows and covered by a large throw, convalescing after a long illness. Although the figure recalls an exotic odalisque, its surroundings reflect the bohemian interiors inhabited by many expressionist artists. The African textile that serves as a backdrop was a gift from the artist’s brother, while the wooden figure to the far left and the vase with sunflowers are also inspired by tribal art, and are most likely examples of Heckel’s own roughly hewn wooden sculpture. In this ornamental studio surrounding, the convalescent’s thin frame and angular physiognomy — which appears as if it, too, were carved from wood — also evoke the spirit of the Gothic. The tripartite format suggests a relationship to the medieval altarpiece in the Christian tradition, while the large size of the three combined canvases lends the private interior space public proportions.