Curatorial Narrative Ernst Barlach’s “Hope and Despair II” (1931) occupies a pivotal position within the Expressionist movement, which sought to disrupt the rationalism of modernity by embracing the raw emotions and anxieties of the human experience. Executed in fine brushwork that imbues every stroke with an air of introspection, this monochromatic masterpiece eschews chromatic splendor for a palette of somber gray tones that evoke the desolate landscapes of post-World War I Germany. By adopting a modernist approach to composition and spatial depth, Barlach creates a visual tension between the monumental figures and their abstracted surroundings, inviting the viewer to contemplate the existential implications of human existence.When enlarged to 60×44 inches, “Hope and Despair II” assumes an imposing presence that recalibrates its relationship with the surrounding space. The monochromatic palette assumes a greater atmospheric weight