Child on the Veranda, Son Titus (Kind auf die Veranda, Sohn Titus)

Art Historical Context

**Child on the Veranda, Titus (Kind auf die Veranda, Titus)** Conrad Felixmüller,1921 Drypoint on wove paper In the turbulent years of Germany's Weimar Republic, following World War I, artist Conrad Felixmüller intimate family moments amid social upheaval. A key figure in German Expressionism and the Dresden Secession Group 1919 Felixmüller often turned to his loved ones for subject matter. This tender 1921 drypoint etching portrays his young son Titus seated on a veranda, evoking quiet domesticity and the artist's deep personal bonds during a time of economic strife and political instability. The drypoint technique—scratching directly into a copper plate with a sharp needle—lends the work its distinctive richness. The burr raised by the tool creates soft, velvety lines that convey texture and emotion, ideal for Expressionist aims of raw psychological depth. Printed on wove paper, the modest plate size (12.8 × 19.69 cm) invites close viewing, highlighting Titus's contemplative gaze and the subtle play of light on the veranda. Now in the National Gallery of Art as a gift from collector Jacob Kainen, this print exemplifies Felixmüller's mastery of printmaking and his focus on childhood innocence. It offers visitors a poignant glimpse into early 20th-century German art's blend of personal warmth and expressive intensity. (198 words)