The Faithful Eckart 1: The Demon 1924

Curator: Ernst Barlach, born in 1870, is the artist behind this unsettling print, "The Faithful Eckart 1: The Demon," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Disturbing. The stark black and white contrast, and the agitated lines—it all points to a scene of intense psychological turmoil, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Barlach lived through tumultuous times. His work often reflects the anxieties of pre-war Germany and the rise of expressionism, and it’s no wonder he was later deemed a degenerate artist by the Nazis. Editor: The composition directs our eyes, yes? From the ghastly figure on the left, to those children, and then to the looming protector. It’s a narrative unfolded through dynamic forms. Curator: Indeed. Eckart is a figure from German folklore, a guardian protecting children from malevolent forces, and Barlach recasts him for a society on the brink. Editor: I see a tension between the flat planes and detailed textures, a visual push and pull that mirrors the story’s own internal conflict. Curator: It’s a powerful print, speaking to the pervasive fears of a society grappling with its demons, both literal and figurative. Editor: Absolutely. It leaves you pondering the nature of protection and the darkness it guards against.