Wandering Death 1923

Editor: Here we see Ernst Barlach's "Wandering Death," a stark image rendered in charcoal. It evokes a sense of weariness. What do you see in this piece, from a historical and social point of view? Curator: Barlach, living through the world wars, presents death not as a triumphant force, but as an exhausted wanderer. Consider the socio-political context: the devastation of war, the rise of fascism. Do you see a critique of power here? Editor: I do. It's like death is burdened by the very suffering it inflicts. Is that a purposeful reversal of traditional depictions? Curator: Precisely. Barlach, deemed "degenerate" by the Nazis, used art to challenge dominant ideologies, revealing the human cost of conflict and questioning notions of heroism and sacrifice. This piece asks: who benefits from war? Editor: So, it's less about mortality and more about the morality of war. That's a powerful interpretation. Curator: Indeed. By humanizing death, Barlach indicts those who perpetuate suffering. It's a sobering reflection on the choices we make as a society.