Artwork
At the Window II
At the Window II is a print by Karl Hofer. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Hofer made nearly 300 prints of windows, but this one feels different—less about looking out, more about being trapped.
A woman sits alone by a window, her face blank, while shadowy figures press behind her. The room feels tight, the light flat.
Hofer made nearly 300 prints of windows, but this one feels different—less about looking out, more about being trapped. The figures don’t talk or touch; they just loom. It was made in Germany between the wars, when everything felt uncertain.
To see how other artists painted quiet tension, look up *subject: germany, 20th century*.
Overview
At the Window II is a lithograph by Karl Hofer, created during the interwar period in Germany.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a crowded interior scene with a woman seated by a window, her face expressionless, while shadowy figures press in around her. The ambiguous composition conveys a sense of unease and alienation.
Technique & Style
Hofer's use of jagged, sketchy lines enhances the feeling of tension in the scene, contributing to the overall atmosphere of anxiety.
Context
Produced between the First and Second World Wars, the work reflects the uncertainty and chaos that characterized Germany during this time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Christian Ludwig Hofer or Carl Hofer was a German expressionist painter. He was director of the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts.
