Fear and Hope 1914

Oskar Kokoschka’s expressive 1914 lithograph, *Fear and Hope*, depicts two figures in a stark landscape against a looming mountain backdrop. The drawing’s title, paired with its expressive lines, evokes the anxieties of the time, as Europe stood on the brink of World War I. The figures, drawn with exaggerated features, appear caught between a sense of fear and uncertainty, yet also a glimmer of hope, symbolized by the mountain range. Kokoschka’s masterful use of line creates a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity, characteristic of his Expressionist style.