De Kynosoof 1923

Editor: So here we have Erich Wichmann’s 1923 pen and ink drawing, "De Kynosoof". It's just… raw. The figure seems both haunted and defiant. What's your read on this, what jumps out to you? Curator: Ah, yes, a fellow traveler in the land of existential angst! To me, this Cynic isn't just drawn, but *summoned*. The sketchy lines... they’re not mistakes, they're whispers of doubt and truth. Look at the way the head seems almost canine, sniffing out hypocrisy, unafraid to bare its teeth. Doesn’t it make you wonder what societal leash he’s straining against? Editor: It definitely has that defiant energy. The title refers to the Cynics of ancient Greece… but what's with the sort of ghostly, unfinished quality? Curator: Exactly! Wichmann’s not just illustrating Diogenes; he's embodying the Cynic's spirit within his own fractured reality. This was post-World War I, a time when the world felt equally brutal and absurd. Do you see that jagged line hovering above? Is it a star? Or perhaps, a broken mirror reflecting a shattered world? Editor: A broken mirror, that's a compelling image! It makes the drawing feel very personal. It sounds like the Cynic's quest continues… Curator: Always does, doesn’t it? Wichmann reminds us that the pursuit of truth, however uncomfortable, is timeless. It’s a journey, etched in ink and in our souls. And frankly, it gives me the shivers in the best possible way. Editor: It definitely sparks new questions and helps to understand the moment in history which framed it all. Thanks for the conversation!