2138 („Ich muss die Kinder spielen sehen …“) 1928

This image, made with paper and crayon, depicts a group of colorful figures sitting on the ground while a dark, solitary figure walks away. John Elsas created this artwork, titled "2138 ('I must see the children play...')", though the precise date is unknown. Elsas, who lived through the tumultuous years of Imperial Germany, the First World War, and the rise of Nazism, channeled his experiences into his art, giving voice to those on the margins of society. The children, rendered in bright, block colors, are a stark contrast to the lone figure walking towards the right, who seems to be heading to school. The words below the children translates to "I must see the children play, and yet go to school." This resonates with Elsas’ own life, where his family forced him to study law, a profession he hated. He wanted to become an artist. He struggled to be himself, to pursue his passions, despite the restrictions placed upon him. The work emphasizes the inherent conflict between the joyous freedom of childhood and the imposed structure of education and social expectations.