Outbreak 1908

Käthe Kollwitz created this print, "Outbreak," with etching, a medium capable of conveying intense emotional depth. Here, a woman with raised arms stands before a revolting group of peasants, an iconic representation of defiance and a call to action. The raised arms, an age-old symbol of supplication and uprising, echo through art history, harking back to classical depictions of figures like Nike, the goddess of victory. But here, the gesture is devoid of triumph. Instead, it embodies a desperate plea, a raw expression of anguish against oppression. Think of the ancient Roman sculptures of captured enemies with their upraised arms, signalling defeat and begging for mercy. In Kollwitz's print, this motif evolves, transforming from surrender to a powerful catalyst for collective action. The emotional charge of the image engages us on a primal level, stirring deep-seated memories of injustice. This visual language of revolt isn't linear. It cycles through time, constantly renewing itself in different struggles, reminding us of the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.