Conference 

Albert Bloch made this evocative painting, Conference, with an unknown medium at an unknown time. It presents a stark depiction of figures resembling skeletons or ghoulish characters, gathered in what seems to be a formal meeting. This imagery can be connected to the Expressionist movement's broader cultural context, which was preoccupied with themes of social alienation and the decay of traditional values. The visual codes in the painting, such as the skeletal figures dressed in formal attire, create meaning through historical associations with mortality. Given the artist's background and the time in which he was working, it’s plausible that the work is a critique of the social structures and institutions of his time, particularly the bourgeoisie and the intellectual elite. The interpretation of art is contingent on social and institutional context, something we historians understand all too well. Careful analysis of historical and cultural resources, such as the artist’s biography, social history, and art criticism from the period, can help us understand the artist's intention and the painting's significance.