A 1920 etching by German Expressionist Walter Gramatté, depicting two figures in a hurried retreat through a wooded area.

This etching by Walter Gramatté, produced in 1920, captures a moment of absurdity and unease. The work belongs to a series of prints that explore the anxieties of the post-war period in Germany. Gramatté employs a distinct graphic language, using jagged, nervous lines to construct the figures of two men in bowler hats. Their posture, leaning forward in a hurried retreat, suggests a sudden reaction to an unseen disturbance. The background, composed of vertical, sketch-like marks, implies a wooded area, yet the environment remains ambiguous and unsettling.

Gramatté was a significant figure within the German Expressionist movement. His work often focused on the psychological state of his subjects, frequently using distortion to convey internal tension. In this print, the contrast between the dark, textured ink and the stark paper creates a sense of urgency. The figures appear isolated, their hurried movement contrasting with the static, vertical lines of the trees. The etching technique allows for a raw, immediate quality, typical of the artist's approach to printmaking. By focusing on the mundane yet frantic actions of these citizens, Gramatté invites the viewer to consider the underlying fragility of everyday life. The composition is tight, drawing the eye directly to the fleeing men, while the surrounding space remains sparse and suggestive. This piece provides a clear example of how the artist used print media to translate complex emotional states into visual form, avoiding unnecessary detail in favour of expressive, direct mark-making.