‘Gaswerk’ im Mondlicht c. 1935

Karl Wiener made ‘Gaswerk’ im Mondlicht, which translates to ‘Gasworks’ in the Moonlight, in a heavy, moody impasto. Imagine him out there at night, squinting at the glow of the moon! There’s a tension here: the way those strokes of paint are dragged and daubed is so physical, even sensuous, but the scene itself is industrial, cold, and a little lonely. You can almost feel the chill in the air, the dampness of the night. Thick, clotted textures build up the architectural forms while the yellow light pools in the bottom half of the composition. The artist’s hand seems to be reaching out, trying to capture the fleeting, ghostly impressions of light and shadow. The orange orb of the moon looms brightly. It reminds me of other painters who were drawn to the drama of the night, like Whistler or even some of the German Expressionists. Artists are always in conversation with each other, picking up on ideas and pushing them in new directions. With this painting, Wiener manages to evoke the stark beauty and uneasy atmosphere of the industrial landscape.