Sommerlandschaft 1899

Curator: Oh, this piece certainly vibrates with an inner turmoil. It’s quite stirring, isn't it? Editor: It is indeed. We're looking at Christian Rohlfs' "Sommerlandschaft," created around 1899. Rohlfs, a key figure in German Expressionism, captured rural life with this pastel drawing with frottage on paper. Curator: That layering effect gives such weight and solidity, particularly in that foreground. I feel an unease even in this so-called "Summer Landscape"; is that the intent of Rohlfs’s unusual layering? Editor: Well, Expressionism at this time was grappling with social changes. Look how the artist renders nature through emotive abstraction. We might ask, "Is it about an ideal or perhaps, an allegory for disruption and unrest in this particular community?" The very texture hints at labor, at perhaps even a troubled peasantry. Curator: A troubled peasantry. A bit dramatic perhaps, given we’re also looking at idyllic elements in here, those trees beyond and their canopies so green. The clouds, too. But it's this earth, so ruddy in colour, it looks worked raw. The figure stands so slightly off from our eye. Editor: Yes, it invites scrutiny through these vibrant oppositions. The composition throws this pastoral scene off balance. We get a skewed harmony that captures an uneasy mood—something between optimism and disquiet. That combination gives it depth and impact, don’t you think? Curator: I think you're correct in spotting that. Rohlfs, for me, communicates a world not simply seen but truly felt. It challenges the viewers, yes even today, to feel and assess their role. Editor: Precisely. By employing such a subjective experience of "Sommerlandschaft", Rohlfs gives us access into this historic time. He forces us to ask relevant questions around issues and society. The expressive form becomes as important as any literal representation. Curator: Exactly. The image stays with you, prompting conversations long after viewing. Editor: That's the magic of art, isn’t it?