Standing man 

Here we see 'Standing Man', by Christian Rohlfs. Rohlfs lived through considerable social upheaval in Germany, including the rise of nationalism and the first World War. The print shows a figure, heavily daubed in thick black paint, gazing off to the right, his form filling the frame. The identity of this man is unknown, but the work resonates with a sense of solidarity with the working classes, whose lives were often marked by hardship. Rohlfs was known for his expressive use of color and form. 'Standing Man' seems to explore themes of identity and resilience through abstraction. There is something deeply emotive in its rough, almost brutal application of paint, which mirrors the often harsh realities of human existence. The artwork prompts us to think about how we stand in the face of adversity, both individually and collectively. The work is a powerful statement about the human spirit, and its capacity to endure.