Ohne Titel II c. 1940

Karl Wiener created this watercolor, Ohne Titel II, sometime before 1949. With the wet-on-wet technique, Wiener applied thin washes of color to the paper allowing the pigments to blend and bleed into each other. These techniques and materials are traditional to the art world, but it's Wiener's rendering that is important. Notice how the artist uses his materials to create an ominous scene of heavy storm clouds looming over a factory. Lightning strikes the chimney while rain pours down from the sky. The artist's touch, combined with his chosen subject matter, reveals a world undergoing vast change. It's a world where nature, as represented by the storm, clashes with the industrialized landscape, represented by the factory. Wiener's choice of watercolor is particularly effective. The translucency of the paint allows light to penetrate through the layers of color, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere, and imbuing the image with layers of social and historical meaning. By considering these elements, we can better understand the full meaning of this work and challenge any traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.