Das Dunkel c. 1923

"Das Dunkel" (c. 1923) by Karl Wiener (1901-1949) is a gouache painting that depicts a single figure standing against a dark background. The figure, rendered in simple, stylized forms, is outlined in blue and wears a red garment. The dark background suggests a sense of isolation or the unknown, while the figure's outstretched arms may imply reaching for something beyond the darkness. The composition is minimalist and expressive, characteristic of Wiener's artistic style, which combined elements of Expressionism and Symbolism.