Throughout Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s career, one unifying theme emerges―the search for what he saw as unadulterated and primal. This volume explores the far-reaching influence of non-western art on Kirchner's oeuvre and the importance of his life in Davos, Switzerland, where he found a temporary peace despite the impending threat of censorship by the Nazis.

Throughout the chapters of this book are reproductions of Kirchner’s paintings as well as his sculptures, woodcuts, sketches, drawings, textiles, carvings, and furniture. Archival material in the form of letters and diary entries offer an unprecedented look into the artist’s creative process. This study of one of the most talented and influential German Expressionist painters draws compelling conclusions about the influence of the imaginary on his work.