Zelfs de duivel is vervelend geworden! 1923

Editor: "Zelfs de duivel is vervelend geworden!" or, "Even the Devil is Bored!" That's the name of this intriguing 1923 pencil drawing by Erich Wichmann. It's definitely striking, evoking a heavy mood, almost like staring into the abyss, wouldn’t you agree? What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Oh, "the abyss staring back," I love that! It has a rather introspective mood, doesn't it? It whispers to me of existential fatigue – even the Devil, traditionally a figure of vibrant chaos, seems utterly drained. But I feel like I'm missing something here: what about its specific technique speaks to you? Editor: The texture! The varied strokes create a sense of unease and imperfection. And the way Wichmann captures the face itself. Is this mask-like, an expressive grimace? Curator: A grimace indeed. You touched on its visual imperfections! Given Wichmann’s involvement in Expressionism, one could wonder if he portrays the fractured state of mind common in postwar Europe through it...almost like the boredom itself is a monstrous burden. I keep circling back to that title. A rather funny one. Editor: It's kind of sad. "Even the Devil is Bored!" conjures this world-weariness. Curator: Absolutely. It challenges this idea that evil is inherently exciting. It might reflect personal feelings by Wichmann. Maybe, boredom, indifference— these are the greatest evils. Perhaps this devil wants to become good if only there would be something worthwhile. Editor: The way we find surprising emotion in unexpected places - even in the devil. Thanks for helping me think about this in a completely new way. Curator: My pleasure! We see the picture with fresh eyes every time we revisit it, like the artist in front of their canvas.