Abstracte compositie 1920

Erich Wichmann created this abstract lithograph around 1920. The stark contrast between light and shadow evokes a sense of unease and the sublime. Notice the thick, swirling lines, almost like brushstrokes. In this chaos, the human mind seeks recognizable forms. Is that a figure struggling within the darkness? Perhaps it is not so important what it represents, but what it evokes. We see echoes of the Baroque era, a fascination with the dramatic interplay of light and darkness. Think of Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro, but stripped of its narrative, distilled into pure emotion. Such imagery takes us back to primordial fears of chaos and the unknown. As it resurfaces throughout history, its forms shift but its psychological impact remains palpable.