Uble Street (Uble Strasse) c. 1925

Paul Gangolf created this print, "Uble Street," using etching techniques, capturing a bustling street scene. The image pulses with figures, each rendered with a frenetic energy that speaks volumes. Note the prominent hats, ubiquitous during this era and not merely fashion statements but social signifiers, demarcating class and status. These hats remind me of similar head coverings in ancient Roman frescoes, symbols of citizenship and identity. Consider how the hat has migrated through time, its purpose evolving yet always tethered to its wearer's persona. Gangolf's frenzied lines suggest a society teetering on the edge of modernity, a collective anxiety made manifest in each stroke. This anxiety is palpable; it stirs something deep within us, tapping into a shared memory of times fraught with uncertainty and transformation. Like a recurring dream, the motifs and gestures reappear, charged with new yet familiar emotional resonance.