Passanten 

Karl Wiener made this ink drawing, "Passanten," in 1933, during a period of significant social and political upheaval in Europe. Wiener, a Jewish artist, was living in Vienna at a time when antisemitism was on the rise, casting a shadow over daily life. The figures in "Passanten" appear detached and isolated, despite being in close proximity to one another. The geometric style, reminiscent of Cubism, flattens the figures, stripping them of individual identity and expression. They are reduced to types, figures caught in the flux of modern urban life. The canes held by some figures, and the fashionable clothing worn by all, suggest middle-class status, yet their faces are marked by a sense of weariness or resignation. Wiener’s work captures the alienation and anxiety of pre-war Europe, reflecting the precarious position of marginalized groups within society. This image resonates with a sense of shared humanity amidst political turbulence.