Death as a Juggler (Revolution) 1919

Christian Rohlfs made this woodcut, Death as a Juggler (Revolution), and you can really see the energy of his cuts, it’s all about the push and pull of the tool as it moves through the wood. The stark contrast of black and white gives the image a dramatic feel. Look at the background, a tapestry of dense, dark marks, versus the lighter, figures in the foreground. The figures are a mass of people looking on as Death performs his trick, a game, a revolution. The figures aren't naturalistic, they are simplified and blocky, with thick outlines and minimal detail. It's like Rohlfs is saying, "Here's the basic form, now fill in the blanks with your own imagination." What does death mean? What do revolutions do? Rohlfs reminds me a bit of Käthe Kollwitz, another German artist who wasn't afraid to tackle difficult themes with a raw, expressive style. Both artists invite us to confront uncomfortable truths, not with answers, but with questions and a space for our own feelings.