Under the Door (In der Tur) 

Curator: Before us is "Under the Door" or "In der Tur" by Karl Hofer, executed as a pen and ink sketch, an example of his expressionist style. What strikes you about it initially? Editor: The stark contrast of light and shadow creates a mood of suspense and maybe a little anxiety. There's something voyeuristic about the title combined with the looming figures clustered in the doorway. Curator: It is a compelling point about voyeurism. The piece certainly plays with notions of public and private space. As a product of German Expressionism, how does it reflect socio-political anxieties of the time, or perhaps comment on art institutions? Editor: Absolutely. Expressionism thrived on confronting uncomfortable truths. Here, the rough, unfinished quality and the stark ink speak to alienation and the fragmentation of the self during a period of immense upheaval in Europe. The female figure almost feels trapped between the visible exterior world and her concealed interiority. Curator: Hofer resisted joining any particular artistic groups. Considering his history, he saw war firsthand, his work may mirror societal traumas or his personal reflections on displacement during a period when the definition of humanity was hotly debated. Editor: Do you think Hofer makes the piece to encourage us to think critically about what these institutional barriers signify, both in his lifetime and today? This door could also be an obstacle representing boundaries of gender or class as well as freedom and social change. Curator: Possibly. The female figure in the artwork remains ambiguous. However, during the interwar period and post-war period in Germany there was social reorganization that encouraged women to take roles previously held by men. He certainly uses it to make his work thought provoking. What feelings does the piece leave you with? Editor: A sense of unresolved tension, a question posed but unanswered. It is a reminder of the ever present potential for something dark. How about you? Curator: I am intrigued by his depiction. This artwork, viewed in relation to others of that time and to ours, prompts introspection, that it might be a warning to observe the human figure when a new generation confronts long running conflicts.