Head of Fritz von Unruh 1918

Editor: This is Wilhelm Lehmbruck's bronze sculpture, "Head of Fritz von Unruh," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s powerful, almost confrontational. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, he looks like he's seen some things, hasn't he? Lehmbruck, like many artists of his time, was deeply affected by the first World War. Perhaps this intensity reflects the anxieties of a generation teetering on the edge. Do you get that sense of foreboding? Editor: I can see that. It's more than just a portrait; it feels like a symbol. Curator: Exactly. It's as if Lehmbruck is reaching for something beyond the surface, trying to capture the very essence of human experience amidst turmoil. Editor: It’s been really insightful looking at the sculpture this way, giving it an added layer of meaning. Curator: It's a conversation, isn't it? Art invites us to engage, to question, and, most importantly, to feel.