Beginn des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts c. 1923

Karl Wiener made this drawing, ‘Beginn des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts,’ or 'Beginning of the Twentieth Century,' with colored pencil and ink. It’s a chaotic cityscape dominated by tall, looming structures. Notice the church steeple juxtaposed with the industrial chimneys—symbols of faith and progress clashing. This contrast is a powerful motif, echoing the tension between tradition and modernity that permeated the early 20th century. These structures, like the Tower of Babel, reach towards the sky, embodying human ambition and perhaps, a subconscious desire to transcend earthly bounds. The swirling lines and fragmented forms evoke a sense of unease and disorientation. Similar motifs appear throughout art history, like the chaotic scenes of hell in medieval paintings. It’s a visual representation of anxiety and the unsettling transformation of society, a potent psychological landscape that engages our deepest fears.