The Walking Bell 1 [The bell chases the boy] 1924

Editor: This is "The Walking Bell 1 [The bell chases the boy]" by Ernst Barlach. It looks like it's made of charcoal, or some sort of drawing medium. The bell is enormous! How do you interpret this work? Curator: The rough texture suggests a rapid, perhaps anxious, execution. The stark contrast emphasizes the materiality of the paper itself, highlighting the economic conditions that shaped art production during Barlach’s time. What does the disproportionate size of the bell suggest about its manufacture? Editor: Maybe the bell represents overwhelming societal pressures? The medium itself seems so raw. Curator: Indeed. And consider the labor involved in bell-making, a process often hidden from view. Barlach brings it to the forefront. Editor: That adds a new layer. I see the focus on production now. Curator: Exactly. This piece reminds us to question the means and conditions of artistic and industrial creation.