The Sick Child

This painting, "The Sick Child," captures a deeply personal and traumatic moment: the final days of the artist's older sister, Sophie, who died of tuberculosis at age 15. The canvas is dominated by the figure of a young girl, propped up by a large white pillow, her red hair a striking contrast to her pale, sickly complexion. Her gaze is vacant, directed towards a dark, ominous curtain on the left, often interpreted as a symbol of death. Beside her, a dark-haired woman, likely her aunt Karen, bows her head in anguish, clutching the child's hand. Their clasped hands form the emotional center of the composition, conveying a profound bond and shared suffering. The thick layers of impasto paint and broad, vertical brushstrokes contribute to the raw, almost feverish quality of the scene, immersing the viewer in the intensity of grief and illness.