Who painted Das leere Café (The Empty Café)?

Das leere Café (The Empty Café) was painted by Walter Gramatté in 1917.

Where can I see Das leere Café (The Empty Café)?

Das leere Café (The Empty Café) is held by National Gallery of Art.

Artwork

Das leere Café (The Empty Café)

Walter Gramatté , 1917

Das leere Café (The Empty Café) is a graphite drawing by Walter Gramatté. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Das leere Café (The Empty Café), created by Walter Gramatté in 1917, is a graphite drawing with stumping on wove paper, exemplifying his blend of expressionist and magic realist styles.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a dimly lit, deserted café with sparse, isolated figures, conveying a sense of loneliness and inactivity. The setting, with its empty tables, mirrors, and framed pictures, suggests a space once vibrant but now subdued.

Technique & Style

Gramatté employed quick, rough lines and subtle stumping to achieve a soft, muted light, enhancing the overall somber and introspective atmosphere of the piece.

History & Provenance

Produced in 1917, during a period influenced by Gramatté's wartime experiences and personal illness, the work reflects his mystical and expressive approach to capturing the human condition.

Context

Part of Gramatté's broader oeuvre characterized by symbolic, introspective imagery, *Das leere Café* aligns with his exploration of themes related to personal struggle and urban environments, notably during his time in Berlin and Hamburg.

Artist & collection

Artist

Walter Gramatté

Walter Gramatté (8 January 1897 in Berlin – 9 February 1929 in Hamburg) was a German expressionist painter who specialized in magic realism.

Museum

National Gallery of Art

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