Kreuzigung (Crucifixion) 1922

Fritz Eduard Pauli made this print, Crucifixion, a scene as old as art itself, but freshly felt. Look at the frenetic mark making, scratches and jabs that create the image. The process is right there on the surface. The stark contrast of light and dark creates a dramatic, almost theatrical effect. Each figure is etched with such intensity, the grief is palpable. See the way the artist uses dense, cross-hatched lines to build up the shadows and volume, particularly in the foreground figures. The textures are so rich, almost tactile. There is a real emotional depth. Look at the contorted faces of the figures, each a study in anguish. This piece really reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, another German artist, also working in printmaking, who was similarly interested in capturing the raw emotion of human suffering. Ultimately, the power of this work lies in its ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations to this timeless scene.