Artwork
Walk in the Shadow
Walk in the Shadow is an ink print by Ernst Barlach. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1922, Walk in the Shadow is a lithographic print by German artist Ernst Barlach. Executed on handmade paper, the image presents two figures moving side‑by‑side beneath a heavy, overcast sky. The composition is rendered with uneven, scratch‑like lines that give the scene a stark, immediate quality.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a pair of walkers advancing together through a dim, shadowed space, one slightly ahead of the other. The muted atmosphere and somber sky suggest a contemplative mood, reflecting Barlach’s post‑war turn toward pacifist concerns and the sense of uncertainty that followed World War I.
Technique & Style
Barlach employed a simple drawing instrument, likely pencil or charcoal, to produce the lithograph’s raw, tactile surface. The rough, uneven strokes place the piece between Realism’s observational detail and Expressionism’s emotive distortion, emphasizing mood over precise representation.
History & Provenance
Part of Barlach’s broader printmaking output, the lithograph emerged during a period when the artist was reassessing his wartime experiences. While primarily known for sculpture, his prints from the early 1920s document his shift from nationalist sentiment to a more humanitarian outlook.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernst Heinrich Barlach (2 January 1870 – 24 October 1938) was a German expressionist sculptor, medallist, printmaker and writer.
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