Unemployed 1934

Carl Pickhardt's print, 'Unemployed', made with etching and engraving, feels like a study in grey. It's more than just monochrome, it’s like he’s trying to find every possible tone in the middle, not quite black and white, capturing a mood as much as an image. The texture is built up from the finest of lines, scratchy and dense, especially in the shadows that swallow these figures. Look at the man standing on the right; his suit seems almost luminous against the dark wall. It’s not just the contrast, but the way the light catches the fabric, giving it a palpable weight. The clustered lines on the newspaper create a shimmering effect, which feels like an echo of the uncertainty each man is facing. This piece reminds me of Kollwitz, not just in the subject matter, but the compassion and understanding in every etched line. There’s no easy answer here, just a quiet observation of human resilience.