Untergang c. 1920

"Untergang" (German for "Downfall") is a powerful drawing by German artist Karl Wiener, created around 1920. The work depicts a large ship engulfed by a swirling mass of dark lines, suggesting a storm or perhaps even a sinking. The expressive use of hatching and cross-hatching, combined with the dramatic composition, convey a sense of urgency and impending doom, referencing the tumultuous post-war era. Wiener's style, characterized by its expressive lines and simplified forms, aligns with the emerging Expressionist movement, reflecting the anxieties and uncertainties of the time.