Sheet XI, Wozzeck Drowns 1925

Editor: This is Walter Gramatté’s "Sheet XI, Wozzeck Drowns". The composition is unnerving, with the distorted figure seemingly submerged. What do you see in the formal aspects of this print? Curator: Note how Gramatté uses etching lines to disrupt the surface, fragmenting the figure. The turbulent strokes above and below the face do not give the eye a place to rest, reinforcing a sense of unease. Editor: So, the absence of a stable focal point mirrors the emotional distress? Curator: Precisely. Gramatté manipulates line and texture to communicate Wozzeck’s psychological state, collapsing the distinction between the subject and their environment. The work is formally resolved to convey anguish. Editor: I see that now. The formal elements really amplify the emotional impact. Curator: Indeed, it’s the careful orchestration of these elements that makes the work so compelling.