Finale 1940

Karl Wiener made this drawing, probably with graphite and ink, in 1940. Look at that dramatic sky – it's like a muscular arm reaching out, or maybe an angry ocean turned to stone. And the sun, a pale disc with a little frown. I imagine Wiener working on this, maybe in a small, dimly lit room, the world outside descending into chaos. What was going through his head as he rendered those bones, so stark against the horizon? The city in the background looks kind of like a sand castle, ready to be washed away. It reminds me of other artists like Otto Dix and George Grosz, who were also grappling with the horrors of war. It’s like they're all in conversation, trying to make sense of the senseless. The stark lines and somber palette really capture a feeling of dread, but there's a strange beauty to it too, right? It’s a powerful statement, full of ambiguity and open to interpretation.