At the Heuriger 1911

Moriz Jung made this woodcut, ‘At the Heuriger’, maybe around 1910, and it's pure visual storytelling, like a page torn from a graphic novel. The way he simplifies forms and uses flat blocks of color really lets the narrative shine through, you know? It's all about the process. I love how the texture of the wood grain peeks through in places, especially in the faces of the musicians at the back. It gives everything this tangible, handmade feel that just adds to the whole atmosphere. Look at the couple in the front; their faces are a riot of wonky lines and exaggerated features, like Jung is pulling us into their slightly tipsy, slightly messy world. The green of the tree canopy almost flattens against the foreground figures, pushing them forward into our space. This piece reminds me a little of Kirchner’s prints – that same bold, graphic style, but Jung’s got this sweetness to him. Like he’s winking at us, saying, "Hey, isn’t life a little absurd?"