Der Vater (The Father) 1920

"Der Vater" (The Father), created in 1920 by German artist Heinrich Hoerle, is a poignant black and white drawing depicting a father holding a child. The drawing's stark lines and expressive figures evoke a sense of both tenderness and unease. The father's face, with its deep wrinkles and furrowed brow, reflects the weight of responsibility and the passage of time. The child's innocent kiss on the father's cheek adds a touch of sweetness to the composition, creating a bittersweet juxtaposition of youth and age. Hoerle's work, often characterized by a blend of Expressionism and Neue Sachlichkeit, explored themes of family, life, and the human condition, capturing the complexities of the human experience.