Clock Tower at Bern c. 20th century

Editor: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's "Clock Tower at Bern" is an arresting image. I’m immediately struck by how the clock face looms over the composition. What symbolic weight does the clock hold here? Curator: Time, measured and immutable, is presented alongside the architecture of governance and community. Consider the psychological impact of a clock – it represents societal control, yet also the fleeting nature of existence. What emotions does the image evoke in you? Editor: A sense of unease, perhaps due to the somewhat distorted perspective and monochromatic palette. Curator: Indeed. Kirchner's Expressionist lens captures the anxiety of modern life. The clock isn't just a timekeeper; it’s a symbol of the pressures and rhythms of a rapidly changing world. Editor: I see it now, the clock as a cultural symbol. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art like this reflects not only reality but also our complex relationship with it.