Head of a Thinker c. 1918 - 1926

Curator: Wilhelm Lehmbruck's "Head of a Thinker," housed here at Harvard, presents a figure cast in bronze, measuring just over 60 centimeters. The hand is raised to the heart. It strikes me as an expression of profound introspection. Editor: It definitely evokes a sense of melancholy, almost anguish. The elongated features and downturned gaze create this feeling of burdened contemplation. But is it truly just about thought, or is there something deeper at play? Curator: Perhaps it's the weight of knowledge, or the struggle to reconcile thought with feeling. The raised hand is a symbol of some hidden knowledge, as it emphasizes the connection between the mind and the heart. The artist invites us into that space of reflection. Editor: Given Lehmbruck's historical context, creating this work before the first world war, could it also be a commentary on the intellectual climate of Europe at the time? The premonitions of war weighing heavily on the mind. Curator: That's a valid point. It's a haunting image of the human condition, wrestling with itself. Editor: It certainly leaves you contemplating the burdens we carry, both individually and collectively.