Hope and Despair II
1931
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1931
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows two shadowy human figures wrapped in rough cloth. One figure stands tall, reaching up. The other slumps low, almost on the ground. Barlach made this during Germany’s rough years after World War I. He often used ugly or rough shapes to show deep feelings. The artist wanted to show real pain, not pretty pictures. Look up Ernst Barlach (German, 1870–1938) to see more of his work.
