Am Wegende (End of the Road)

Art Historical Context

**Am Wegende (End of Road)**, a poignant 1920 lithograph German artist Heinrich Hoerle, captures the somber mood of post-World War I Europe. Printed on pale brown paper measuring 59 × 46 cm, this work is part of a portfolio housed in the National Gallery of's CG-W Department, generously gifted by the Collectors Committee. Hoerle, founding member of the Cologne ProgressivesGruppe Progress), channeled the era's social unrest through stark, expressive forms influenced byhenish Expressionism. ography, Hoerle's chosen medium, was ideal for the time—a precise yet affordable technique that allowed artists to produce multiples and reach wider audiences amid economic hardship in the Weimar Republic. The muted brown paper enhances the print's earthy, melancholic tone, evoking themes of exhaustion and finality suggested by the title, *Am Wegende*. As part of a portfolio classification, it likely contributed to a series addressing human struggle and societal critique. This piece exemplifies early 20th-century German printmaking's role in cultural discourse, blending technical innovation with raw emotional power. Visitors to the National Gallery can appreciate how Hoerle's work reflects the fragile hope and disillusionment of a rebuilding nation.