At the End of the Road 1920

Curator: This intriguing drawing, held in the Harvard Art Museums, is entitled "At the End of the Road" by Heinrich Hoerle. Editor: It’s stark, almost unsettling. The contrasting textures and forms create a dreamlike, somewhat nightmarish quality. Curator: The artist uses ink to build up a complex arrangement, contrasting a humanoid figure with organic, almost serpentine forms. Consider the stark composition: the contrast of the light background and the darkness of the ink. Editor: Hoerle was associated with the Cologne Progressives. One can read the isolation of the figure as representative of the social alienation experienced in the aftermath of the First World War. Curator: But also, observe the technique. The delicate hatching creates a sense of depth and movement, drawing the eye across the composition, following the sinuous lines. Editor: And perhaps reflecting a wider societal disillusionment. Hoerle's work often grapples with political themes and the human condition. Curator: A masterful use of line. It’s an exceptional example of German Expressionism. Editor: It leaves one contemplating the darker aspects of the human experience.