Ohne Titel X 1942

Karl Wiener made this alluring charcoal drawing of a woman beneath a crescent moon in 1943. The grainy charcoal gives the image a soft, dreamlike quality. The few touches of color, a bright red lip and the blue trim of her dress, pull her forward from the darkness. Look how Wiener uses the charcoal, layered in different directions to create a sense of depth and texture. See the way the dress is formed from a series of vertical marks? This reminds me how process becomes visible, how the act of art-making is laid bare for the viewer to witness. I find a real connection between the rawness of the medium and the intimacy of the subject. This piece reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also dealt with the interplay between the figure and the landscape, but Wiener's use of charcoal and his muted palette gives the piece an eerie, otherworldly feel. It leaves you with a sense of mystery.