Seated Youth 1916 - 1917

Wilhelm Lehmbruck made "Seated Youth" without a known date, in what looks like plaster. The color is muted, like a memory, and it invites you into a space of introspection. The surface texture is crucial here: the slightly rough feel of the plaster gives the figure a tactile presence. The color palette is restrained, with the use of earthy tones, creating a sense of melancholy and contemplation. Look at the slumped shoulders and bowed head – the weight of the world seems to rest there. The hands, resting on the knee, are particularly expressive, conveying a sense of vulnerability. There’s an awkwardness in the pose, a kind of adolescent uncertainty. The figure reminds me a bit of Rodin, but there is a starkness and isolation here that is all Lehmbruck. It’s a piece that acknowledges the beauty and the difficulty of being human.