A glimps on Barlach’s sculpture in light of his woodcuts

Abstract

The First World War created a dark atmosphere with the turmoil that started before and the depression that followed; However, in this darkness, a magnificent art movement, expressionism has blossomed. Expressionism has survived beyond the borders of Germany, without losing its power.

It was just before the emergence of expressionism that the woodblock printing was re-invented and attracted the attention of artists .Among the modern German artists who are wide known for the woodprints is Ernst Barlach (1880-1938). The prints carved by this master of wooden sculpture, are as interesting as his sculptures.

Barlach is known for his theater and literary writings as well as his production in the plastic arts. His playwright experience has caused the integrity in Barlach’s works. His prints and sculptures are deeply connected to each other, the printed images illustrate the stories of his sculptural figures whereas the sculptures animate the drawn image. This relationship continues in his playwrites and other literary works.

Gothic Art, inspired Barlach, and this created a unique art language by meeting his notebooks full of impressions of his travels to Russia. The consistency in his subjects and in his unique stylistic language, construct the integrity of his works.

Die Wandlungen Gottes (Transformations of God) is an album of seven woodblock prints. The albüm contains no texts, the meaning of the portfolio lies in the titles and their order. With figures that match his sculptures, this portfolio makes it easier to understand the intellectual and formal infrastructure that makes up Barlach’s art.