Death of Siegfried c. 20th century

Editor: This is Max Slevogt's "Death of Siegfried," a stark black and white print. The scene is so dramatic, and the rough texture emphasizes the violence. What can you tell me about the materials and the context of its creation? Curator: Consider how the woodcut medium itself contributes to the subject. The artist’s labor, the physical act of carving, mirrors the brutality depicted. What societal anxieties do you think might have led to its creation? Editor: Perhaps the rising industrialization? It seems like a rejection of the smooth, mass-produced aesthetic. Curator: Precisely. Slevogt likely chose this laborious process to critique the dehumanizing effects of modernity. Editor: That's fascinating; I never considered the material choice as a statement. Curator: Thinking about the labor and materiality helps us understand its cultural significance.