Beginn des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts c. 1923

"Beginn des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts" (Beginning of the Twentieth Century), a circa 1923 work by Karl Wiener, captures the chaotic energy of urban life through a vibrant and fragmented cityscape. Wiener, who was born in 1901 and died in 1949, utilizes bold colors and overlapping lines to create a sense of depth and movement, evoking the bustling streets and towering structures of a rapidly modernizing world. The artwork's energetic composition and expressive lines reflect a style often associated with Expressionism, a movement that emphasized subjective expression and emotional intensity. Wiener's depiction of the urban landscape speaks to the transformative nature of the early 20th century, capturing a time of rapid industrialization and societal change.