Portrait of a Man with Glasses 

Ludwig Meidner created this drypoint etching, "Portrait of a Man with Glasses," capturing a moment in early 20th-century Germany. Meidner, who belonged to a generation of German-Jewish artists, lived through a period of immense social and political upheaval. The portrait invites questions about identity and representation. Is this just a man with glasses, or is it also a reflection on the changing face of German society? The man’s intense gaze and prominent mustache evoke a sense of self-assurance, but the raw, almost frenetic lines of the etching hint at an underlying anxiety. Meidner once wrote about his desire to capture the "feverish pulse" of the city, and this portrait seems to pulse with a similar energy. It's as if the artist is not just showing us a face, but also revealing the complex emotions and tensions of a society on the brink. What does this portrait tell us about how individuals navigate their identities in a world undergoing rapid transformation?