To the Moon 1: Rising Moon 1924

Editor: So, this is "To the Moon 1: Rising Moon" by Ernst Barlach. It's a small image, but the stark contrast between the dark landscape and the bright moon makes it so dramatic. What socio-political commentary might Barlach be making? Curator: Given Barlach's later condemnation by the Nazis, consider the role of landscape in German Romanticism. The moon, a symbol of longing and the sublime, is here shrouded, perhaps alluding to a cultural or spiritual dimming. How does this resonate with the political climate of the time? Editor: That's fascinating, I hadn't considered the sociopolitical undertones of the landscape itself. Curator: Exactly. This piece reveals how seemingly simple imagery can become a powerful commentary on the era's socio-political tensions.