Der Vater (The Father)

Art Historical Context

**Der Vater (The Father Heinrich Hoerle, 1920 Lithograph on pale brown, sheet: 59 × 46 cm (23 1/4 × 18 1/8 in.) National Gallery of Art, of the Collectors Committee in the turbulent aftermath of World War I *Der Vater (The Father is a striking lithograph by Heinrich Hoerle, a founding member of the Cologne Progressives (uppe Progress). Formed in 1920 amid the Weimar Republic's social upheaval, this avant-garde group channeled the trauma of war into raw, unflinching art. Hoerle's work reflects the era's preoccupation with human suffering, using stark realism to portray the physical and emotional scars left by conflict. The choice of lithography—a precise planographic technique transferring designs from stone or metal plates onto paper—enabled Hoerle to produce accessible prints for wider audiences. Printed on pale brown paper, this portfolio piece (Department CG-W) amplifies its somber tone, evoking aged documents or faded memories. As part of a classified portfolio, it underscores the Progressive's mission to document and critique postwar reality. *Der Vater* invites visitors to ponder themes of paternal legacy and resilience, a poignant reminder of how art bore witness to an era's darkest chapters. Its presence in the National Gallery of Art highlights the enduring power of printmaking in social commentary.

About the Artist

Heinrich Hoerle · 1885–1936

Heinrich Hoerle, born on September 1, 1895, in Cologne, Germany, emerged as a pivotal figure in the radical art scene of the Weimar Republic. He studied at the Cologne School of Arts and Crafts but was largely self-taught, honing his skills amid the turmoil of World War I. In 1919, he married fellow artist Angelika Hoerle (née Fick), with whom he plunged into Cologne's Dada movement, co-founding t...