Rape II (Raub II, Weib halb) 1911

Wilhelm Lehmbruck made this etching, Rape II, with simple lines, almost like a sketch, capturing a tense moment between two figures. The starkness reminds us that artmaking is a process, where the artist makes decisions about what to show and what to leave out. The textures are important here, aren’t they? The rough quality of the etched lines against the paper give it a feeling of something unfinished, raw. Look at the way Lehmbruck uses the lines to create a sense of depth and shadow, particularly around the figures. There’s a kind of ambiguity, too. The lines suggest forms without fully defining them, which makes you wonder what is being depicted and makes you examine the title again. The rawness of the piece makes me think of Käthe Kollwitz, who also explored difficult subjects with a similarly unflinching eye. Art isn’t just about pretty pictures, it’s about grappling with difficult truths and leaving room for interpretation.