Night II 1914

Albert Bloch, an American artist associated with the Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter, created this enigmatic pastel work titled Night II. Bloch’s work was deeply informed by his Jewish identity and the rise of antisemitism in Europe during the early 20th century, and his feelings about it. The somber hues and ghostly forms in the image evoke a sense of unease and introspection, resonating with the anxiety and uncertainty experienced by many Jewish people in a world increasingly hostile to their existence. The ethereal or dreamlike quality of the piece speaks to the search for meaning and identity in a world undergoing rapid and often traumatic change. Bloch, writing about his work said, "My art is… a tragic mirror of the times.” Through Night II, he holds up that mirror, reflecting both the personal and collective experience of navigating a fractured world.