Geabstraheerde figuur met baard 1923

Erich Wichmann created this charcoal drawing called ‘Geabstraheerde figuur met baard’ - or Abstraction of a Figure with Beard - during a time of significant social and artistic transformation. This was the early 20th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of modernism, and just after the end of the First World War, which devastated Europe. Wichmann, like many artists of his generation, was deeply affected by these changes. The drawing uses abstraction as an expression of the shifting social and personal identities amidst the chaos and uncertainty of a world in transition. The wisened male figure seems to be burdened by the world, as indicated by the title ‘Wisdom of the World’ that is handwritten on the piece. This work invites us to reflect on the complexities of human existence and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. It captures a moment of introspection, urging us to consider our own place within the broader tapestry of history.