Milieu Bosshardt (Original Title) 1923

Curator: Looking at Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's etching, "Milieu Bosshardt," created in 1923 and held at the Städel Museum, what strikes you first? Editor: The sheer density of the linework, almost claustrophobic, creating this feeling of unease. The composition is so compact; it’s as if the figures are trapped within this network of lines. Curator: Kirchner was deeply engaged with social commentary. The "Milieu Bosshardt" speaks volumes about post-war German society, particularly the precariousness of life and social interactions during that period. Bosshardt, you see, was a pastor, an important social figure during that period, so depicting him surrounded by that group...it all has meaning. Editor: True, I notice how the intersecting lines and angles construct an almost impenetrable barrier around this man and group, this pastor, his posture is rather...unsettling. The harsh contrasts produce almost nightmarish qualities in those represented; a world where hope and despair intertwine so deeply. And look how he is depicted! It makes you question the position that man occupies...it's not entirely benevolent. Curator: Exactly! The German Expressionists were known for their angst; the formal choices Kirchner made reflect it, too. Consider the influence of movements of urbanization, the societal pressures of this new metropolis on those who suffered marginalization. These people were still figuring out a path and identity in a changed society, that internal struggle is something that really comes across to me in this print. Editor: It is visually potent, isn’t it? It's all rather complex. But those bold, angular lines have such a clear emotive charge. Looking at Kirchner's line work here—it reminds me of raw nerves laid bare, conveying immediate anxieties of the new era. Curator: Well put. And I think that speaks to Kirchner's enduring appeal. The Städel Museum chose well, to have his work on display. He managed to capture the feeling of a very specific, and challenging time. Editor: Absolutely, it is powerful just how those formal elements manage to speak directly to societal emotions...it has been quite enlightening.