13475 („Es läuft der Mensch durch‘s Leben rasch …“) 1931

Editor: So, this quirky collage is called "13475 ('Es läuft der Mensch durch’s Leben rasch …')" by John Elsas, created in 1931. The use of watercolor, ink, and paper really jumped out at me. There’s almost something frantic about this figure dashing along – what’s your take? Curator: Frantic, yes! I feel the headlong rush you’re describing. It's as if Elsas captured the very essence of 1930s anxiety. The geometric shapes that make up the body, and the figure itself are like fragmented pieces of a rapidly changing world. The phrase written at the bottom translates to, "Man runs quickly through life and thinks of his pocket." It makes me wonder, what was Elsas trying to say about that fleeting, hurried journey? And, even more so, that relentless focus on our own material possessions during such times? What resonates most with you about that concept? Editor: That frenzied materialism really hits home, especially nowadays. And I hadn't picked up on that specific social commentary - very insightful! I wonder what motivated the somewhat jarring contrast between those vivid watercolors and harsher inks? Curator: I suspect it may also suggest that duality within us - our desires versus realities. The vibrant, beautiful colors masking a perhaps harsher truth penned in ink. Ultimately, isn't that the paradox of life itself? Beautiful yet fleeting? Editor: Absolutely, a perfect encapsulation. It is funny, though; I thought I was signing up for an audio guide gig and instead I got to ruminate about modern existence through a bizarre modernist collage! Thanks! Curator: Likewise, that hurried quality reminds us that reflecting on artwork – slowing down – actually helps us pause and savor all of the hurried things, feelings, people around us in daily life. So in essence, perhaps we got still, together.