Poverty 1919

Christian Rohlfs made this painting, "Poverty," with what looks like oil or tempera, maybe around the turn of the century. The colours are stark and kind of muddy, which somehow fits the subject. Rohlfs lays down these bold, dark outlines. The whole thing feels urgent, like a sketch but with the weight of a finished piece. Look at the way he renders the woman's dress, all those thick strokes defining the folds and shadows. You can almost feel the weight of the fabric and, you know, the weight of the world on her shoulders. Then there's the little kid to the left, all spindly limbs and big eyes, practically drawn with just a few lines. The whole thing has this raw, expressive energy, kind of reminds me of some of Kathe Kollwitz's prints, that same empathy and unflinching look at hardship. It's not pretty, but it's honest.