Versailles "Mich lassen sie jetzt nicht mehr in die Schule, ich bin auch unterernährt."

1923

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Versailles "Mich lassen sie jetzt nicht mehr in die Schule, ich bin auch unterernährt." is a 1923 by Karl Arnold, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Karl Arnold
When & what style?: 1923
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows two barefoot boys in simple clothes standing indoors near an open door. One boy holds something in his hands, while the other looks down, both with slumped shoulders. Above them, a faint drawing of a streetlamp and a few buildings appears as if floating in the air. The boys’ expressions and posture suggest sadness or disappointment. The drawing feels unfinished, with light pencil lines and no color. The title, written in German, hints at a child’s voice: *"They don’t let me into school anymore—I’m also malnourished."* Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with lines.

The story of this work

Overview

A pen and ink drawing depicts two severely underweight schoolboys standing in an alley. The image was created by Karl Arnold in 1923 and published in *Simplicissimus* on July 9, 1923, with a later reprint in *Berliner Bilder* in 1924. The title references the Treaty of Versailles and its consequences, with one boy stating he is too malnourished to attend school. The work reflects the economic hardship in Germany following the Ruhr occupation and hyperinflation that year.

Read the full account in the museum source.