Schlote c. 1923

Karl Wiener created "Schlote", meaning smokestacks, with colored pencil on paper. Wiener, born in Vienna, lived through both World Wars and the rise of fascism, witnessing firsthand the destruction of urban landscapes, and this work is a window into that experience. The city emerges through a veil of abstraction; the smokestacks become stand-ins for a world grappling with the consequences of industrialization and war. The muted palette and the sketch-like quality evoke a sense of melancholy, perhaps even a premonition of loss. Wiener's negotiation with the representation of the city reflects a broader struggle to reconcile the rapid changes of the modern era with the human experience. "Schlote" invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the urban landscape and the forces that shape it. It’s a call to consider the emotional and environmental costs of progress.