Gegensätze II 1934

"Gegensätze II" (1934) by Walter Kurt Wiemken is a striking and unsettling painting that exemplifies the artist's exploration of the human condition and its complexities. The painting features a starkly contrasting composition with figures arranged in two distinct planes. In the upper plane, a woman sits at a table, seemingly indifferent to the chaotic scenes around her, including a crucified figure, a butchered animal, and a man in a tuxedo. The lower plane depicts a procession of grotesque figures, their bodies contorted and their expressions haunting. Wiemken's use of bold colors and gestural lines contribute to the painting's raw and visceral energy.