Pariah: The Legend 4: The Pariah's Thanksgiving 1924

Curator: Ernst Barlach, born in 1870, created this lithograph titled "Pariah: The Legend 4: The Pariah's Thanksgiving". It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: My first impression is the figure’s raw vulnerability; the upturned hands read as both supplication and acceptance. Curator: Barlach often used his art to comment on social outcasts and spiritual yearning. The text above the figure adds another layer, referencing rebirth and transformation through pain. Editor: The figure seems to embody that very tension. It's a stark representation of suffering, yet there's a defiant strength in the pose. It speaks to the resilience of the marginalized. Curator: Barlach was deeply affected by his experiences in World War I, and that disillusionment permeates much of his work. He explores how societal forces affect individual lives. Editor: The poem and the drawing together, it becomes a powerful testament to the idea that even in the deepest despair, there is a possibility for renewal. Curator: I find the combination of visual and textual elements so very compelling in communicating social commentary and spiritual reflection. Editor: It's a haunting and memorable image, one that stays with you, prompting reflection on resilience.