The Fugitives 1916 - 1917

Ernst Barlach made this drawing, "The Fugitives," using a humble piece of graphite on paper. The material qualities of this work are deceptively simple. Consider the directness of mark-making in the image: the hatching and cross-hatching creating a sense of movement and urgency. Look at the heaviness of the shading, creating a somber mood. Barlach was trained in the tradition of wood carving, a painstaking subtractive process. Here, he adopts a similarly direct approach, allowing the character of the figures to emerge from the shadows. It's tempting to see this as simply a quick sketch. But that would be a mistake. The graphic arts, including drawing, allowed artists to engage with modern social issues, and to produce works in multiples, making them more accessible to a wider audience. "The Fugitives" invites us to reflect on the political turmoil of Barlach's time, and to appreciate the power of accessible materials to convey complex ideas.