Zedelijkheid 1923

Erich Wichmann created this work, titled "Zedelijkheid," in 1923 using ink. The figure, gaunt and austere, evokes a sense of moral severity. Consider the averted gaze and the elongated neck. These motifs appear throughout art history, often signifying defiance or stoicism, seen in medieval depictions of saints or even in the portraits of El Greco. Over time, however, the neck, a symbol of constraint, has shifted from signifying spiritual elevation to representing social and political oppression. Our collective memory imbues this image with layers of meaning tied to societal restrictions and repressed desires. The artist conjures an emotional tension, an oppressive feeling of silence that engages viewers. This echoes the silent scream depicted in Munch's "The Scream," an appeal to the viewers that resonates deep within the subconscious. The cyclical progression of these symbols of constraint resurfaces with renewed and amplified intensity.