A haunting 1918 lithograph by German Expressionist Walter Gramatté, depicting a somber scene from Nikolai Gogol's The Overcoat.

This lithograph by Walter Gramatté, titled Akaki Is Carried to the Grave, belongs to a series of prints inspired by Nikolai Gogol's short story, The Overcoat. Created in 1918, the work captures the grim, atmospheric tension characteristic of German Expressionism during the post-war period. Gramatté employs a stark, high-contrast aesthetic to convey the narrative weight of the scene, where the protagonist Akaki Akakievich is transported to his final resting place.

The composition relies on heavy, gestural mark-making and deep shadows to obscure the figures, rendering them as silhouettes against a murky, undefined background. The use of lithography allows for a textured, almost charcoal-like quality, which enhances the sense of gloom and existential dread. The figures appear hunched and burdened, their forms distorted to reflect the psychological intensity of the literary source material. Gramatté avoids precise anatomical detail, opting instead for a raw, emotive rendering that prioritises the mood of the scene over literal representation.

Gramatté was a significant figure within the Berlin art scene of the early twentieth century, known for his focus on themes of suffering, mortality, and the human condition. His work often reflects the trauma and instability of the era. In this print, the interplay between light and dark creates a claustrophobic environment, drawing the viewer into the somber procession. The print serves as a visual interpretation of Gogol's tragic tale, translating the literary themes of social alienation and loss into a visual language of shadow and form. This piece is an example of the artist's ability to manipulate the lithographic medium to achieve a haunting, atmospheric effect, typical of his broader body of graphic work.