Mrs. Jochum

The haunting portrait of Mrs. Jochum was painted in Salzburg by the Berlin artist Albert Birkle in the early 1930s. Pictured here is a proprietress of a fashion salon who was also Birkle's first wife's seamstress. The businesswoman posed for several portraits by the artist, and it is striking to see how directly she gazes at the viewer. The dark eyes, raised brows, and crossed hands supported by a cane make this portrait distinctive. A defining characteristic of Birkle's often sociocritical and somber images in these years is the emphasis placed on individual postures and facial features for dramatic effect.