Der Gegenwart gewidmet! c. 1923

Karl Wiener made this drawing, "Der Gegenwart gewidmet!" using ink and watercolor. Notice how he's rendered the buildings, each labeled for its purpose: "school," "bank," "barracks," and even "penitentiary." It’s a society mapped out in architecture. The drawing style is deceptively simple, a hand-drawn rendering with an illustrative aesthetic. The bold lines and flat colors give it the look of a print, but the evidence of hand remains. The textures and tones are achieved through the layering of watercolor washes, applied with an expressive touch. You can see the quick, repetitive motions of the pen in the hatching and cross-hatching that define the forms and create a sense of depth. What's most striking is the weight of the institutions themselves, which appear formidable and imposing. The artist has not only depicted these buildings, but has offered insight into the social order of his time. In this way, Wiener shows us the power of materials and making to communicate complex ideas about labor, politics, and consumption.