Abend c. 1921

Karl Wiener’s ‘Abend’, whose date is unknown, presents a stylized cityscape rendered in ink and watercolor on paper. The artist employed traditional media, but with a distinctive mark-making technique. Notice the meticulous cross-hatching used to define the buildings and the overall composition, creating a dense, textured effect. The sky is painted with flat, vibrant colors, contrasting with the monochromatic, linear quality of the cityscape. This laborious process is more akin to drawing than painting, using simple tools. Wiener’s approach emphasizes craft and process. The cross-hatching technique is time-consuming, demanding patience. It transforms the image into a meditation on labor. By obscuring the city in a screen of mark-making, the artist implies a complex, socially produced environment. Understanding the material processes and social context behind this piece allows us to appreciate the interplay between traditional and industrial aesthetics. It also challenges conventional distinctions between art and craft.