Ernst Barlach: Sculpture 'Freezing Girl' (1916), reduction in bronze

'Ernst Barlach's sculpture marks the beginning of a decisive change of style in his work, which the artist continuously refined and maintained until his death in 1938. It is also an important contemporary document of the decline of the ruling systems. After a brief deployment as a soldier in 1915/16, Barlach was traumatised and oriented towards religious searching. Themes of war and battle circulate and ferment in his consciousness. His expressive figures, however, became more and more self-contained on the outside. Everything ornamental and decorative is stripped away. The sculptural accents are limited to the bare essentials. The sometimes lively lines of the garment, as in the 'Stroller' of 1912, are used to emphasise an inner feeling, also in the depiction of the face and hands. The sculpture becomes an expression of consciousness, a convincing power and strength. The freezing girl is an outstanding example of the new emphatic style. The figure grows upwards from the almost square plinth, motionless like a column, in sculptural rhythms. Beneath the warming cloak of heavy fabric, the hands clasp the face to the cheeks. Holding it like a jewel. The face mask shows mouth, nose, eyes and brows, but appears closed, listening inwards. It seems as if she can hear the tremors in the machinery of humanity on earth behind closed eyes. The shock makes her freeze. Her heart goes cold when she thinks of the millions of people that war and revolution have devoured and will devour. You can fight the sub-zero temperatures with heating, exercise and thick clothes if you have them. It is difficult to find a remedy for the cold heart that is frozen by war, loneliness and ignorance. The girl's posture in Barlach's work emphasises pausing, contemplation, contemplation, and here the artist is completely with the people, with their joys but also with their pain, with their fear. In his artistic work, Barlach fulfils his human mission to give strength and comfort through the vivid density and presence of his works. His entire oeuvre is clarity and encouragement. In every work, it provides the decisive moment of pause and self-recognition. (Dr Friedhelm Häring, former museum director and curator) Sculpture in fine bronze, cast using the lost wax technique, chiselled, polished and patinated by hand. Moulded from the original and reduced in size (reduction). Limited edition of 980 copies, numbered and with the signature 'E. Barlach' as well as the foundry and ars mundi hallmark. With numbered certificate of authenticity and limitation certificate. Size approx. 32.5 x 9 x 8 cm (h/w/d). Weight approx. 3.1 kg. ars mundi exclusive edition.