First Ascent of Monte Domapozza in the Dolomites 1911

Moriz Jung’s *First Ascent of Monte Domapozza in the Dolomites*, is a dynamic artwork, likely a print, rendered with flat planes of color and bold outlines. The color palette is surprisingly modern with the use of this vivid blue against a warm yellow, a testament to how Jung embraced new chromatic possibilities. What strikes me most is the dynamism of the composition. The pilot in his plane, suspended by a rope to another figure, becomes a metaphor for the precariousness of human endeavor. Look at how the flat color emphasizes form and action, while the outlines delineate shapes and direct the eye. The overall feeling is both playful and slightly unnerving. It’s like, who hasn’t felt like this climber, dangling and hoping for a hand up? Perhaps Jung was interested in the blurring between graphic art, futurism and the absurd. Maybe he was familiar with the work of Paul Klee, with its playful experimentation and childlike sensibility. Both artists approach artmaking as a journey of exploration, and that’s what makes their work so exciting to engage with.