Fear (Das Bangen) - Käthe Kollwitz

A powerful 1914 lithograph by Käthe Kollwitz, capturing the raw emotion of anxiety and dread during the early months of the First World War.

Fear (Das Bangen) is a lithograph by Käthe Kollwitz, published in the October 1914 issue of the periodical Kriegszeit. This publication emerged shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, serving as a platform for artists to respond to the conflict through original lithographic works. The image depicts a figure, shrouded in a dark, heavy garment, with hands clasped tightly against the chest. The face is rendered with closed eyes and a set mouth, conveying a sense of internalised anxiety and apprehension. Kollwitz utilises the medium of lithography to create a textured, atmospheric quality. The dark, cross-hatched lines surrounding the figure suggest a suffocating environment, isolating the subject in their state of dread. The composition is stark and direct, focusing entirely on the psychological state of the individual rather than external circumstances. By stripping away background detail, the artist forces the viewer to confront the raw emotion of the subject. This work is characteristic of the artist's approach to social and political themes. Kollwitz often focused on the human cost of war, poverty, and grief. Her work avoids glorification, choosing instead to document the suffering of those left behind. The inclusion of the original text from the Kriegszeit publication at the bottom of the sheet provides historical context, marking the piece as a direct response to the early months of the war. The print remains a clear example of how the artist used her technical skill to communicate the weight of human experience during periods of collective trauma.