Promenaders 1914

Curator: August Macke, a member of the German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter, created this drawing called "Promenaders." It's held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a dream, a fleeting moment observed. The charcoal strokes give it a hazy, almost melancholic air. Curator: Macke's work often reflects the burgeoning urban leisure culture of his time. The figures, though, seem somewhat detached, perhaps reflecting the alienation of modern life. Editor: I see the horse and carriage, the stylish hats—but their faces are so somber. Is this a celebration or a critique? Maybe it’s both? Curator: Precisely. Macke uses these scenes to explore themes of class, societal expectations, and the individual's place within a rapidly changing world. Editor: I'm left pondering the stories behind these figures. Who are they? What are they thinking? It really makes you wonder.