Der Immerwährendeschmerz (Perpetual Pain) 1920

Heinrich Hoerle made this drawing, Der Immerwährendeschmerz, or Perpetual Pain, sometime in the early 20th century using ink on paper. Look at how Hoerle uses line; it’s scratchy, almost hesitant, but confident in its starkness. This economy of mark-making really says something about his process. It’s like he’s thinking out loud with his pen. The drawing's on this thin, tan paper; the ink isn’t dense, but it's enough to create a haunting image. The figures are peculiar, grotesque almost, with these vacant stares and slumped postures. I’m drawn to the figure hanging on the wall, this disembodied shirt, it's so vulnerable. It’s easy to see echoes of artists like George Grosz, who were also capturing the alienation of the interwar period. Hoerle’s drawing reminds me of the importance of process, how a simple line can convey complex emotions, leaving us with more questions than answers.