Artwork
Refugee Family

Refugee Family is an ink print by Wilhelm Oesterle. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:monogrammed and dated in plate, at lower right: OW 1922; numbered and signed below image, in graphite: 9/50 Wilh. Oesterle
About this work
Overview
Refugee Family is a 1922 print by Wilhelm Oesterle, created using drypoint with aquatint on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a somber refugee family: a man pushing a cart, a woman holding a swaddled child, and a muted gray-brown background. The figures' downcast gazes and worn clothing convey a sense of gloom and desolation.
Technique & Style
Oesterle's use of drypoint and aquatint techniques, combined with plate tone, creates a textured and nuanced image. The wove paper supports the rich tonal variations achieved through these methods.
Artist & collection













