Sonnenstrahlen c. 1930

Karl Wiener created "Sonnenstrahlen," or "Sunbeams," a pencil drawing during a tumultuous time in European history. Born in 1901, Wiener's life and work were inevitably shaped by the rise of fascism and the devastation of World War II. Looking at the drawing, you can see how the stark contrasts between light and shadow evoke a sense of unease. The sunbeams, while ostensibly symbols of hope, pierce through a landscape of heavy, dark mountains. The artist grew up Jewish, and perished during the Holocaust; with that knowledge, the landscape is less scenic and becomes a foreboding place of hiding and entrapment. The path at the lower right seems to offer a way out. It is a poignant reminder of the countless individuals whose lives were tragically cut short during this dark chapter in history. Wiener's "Sonnenstrahlen" serves as a powerful meditation on resilience, hope, and despair in the face of unimaginable adversity.