Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Ernst Barlach died in 1938; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2008.
In context
The Singing Man — Ernst Barlach
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 68 at death.
Painted when the artist was 58. The artist lived to 68. 4 of the 6 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Ernst Barlach (1870–1938) ▲ this work, 1928 every dated painting, decade by decade
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/ernst-barlach-the-singing-man-D4QE8E-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Phthalo Green #2b2222
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 12 works by this artist, of which 7 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 5 of them, with 10.0% of that attention (100 visits). The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
About this artwork
The Singing Man — Ernst Barlach
Ernst Barlach ist einer der bedeutendsten Bildhauer des deutschen Expressionismus. Geprägt durch die erschütternden Erfahrungen des Ersten Weltkriegs und später in radikaler Opposition zur rassistisch definierten nationalsozialistischen Propaganda einer Volksgemeinschaft befasste er sich mit dem Individuum, häufig in dessen existenzieller Einsamkeit und Not, aber auch in Momenten des unmittelbaren und als glücklich erlebten Daseins. Der singende Mann wirkt in seiner zurückgelehnten Haltung gelöst und lauscht mit Freude und ein wenig eitel der eigenen Melodie. Er erlebt einen vergänglichen Moment des Glücks, scheint aber gleichzeitig die Grenze zu einer jenseitigen Welt zu überschreiten. Die Figur verkörpert in ihrer Formensprache und Vitalität somit beides, das vergängliche Glück des Einzelnen und das zeitlose glücklich Sein an sich. Der singende Mann zählt zu den beliebtesten Werken Ernst Barlachs. Bei der Skulptur aus der Schweriner Sammlung handelt es sich um einen Abguss aus dem Jahr 1928, der zwischen 1930 und 1940 als Vorlage zahlreicher Bronze und Zinkgüsse diente. Ab 1910 lebte Barlach zurückgezogen in Güstrow. Seine Kunst wurde von den Nationalsozialisten als entartet verfemt.
Artist and museum
Born in Wedel, Holstein (Germany) on January 2nd, 1870, Ernst Heinrich Barlach was the eldest of four sons.
His father, Dr. Georg Barlach, was a physician who died when Ernst was fourteen, leading to a move with his family.
He received his early education in Ratzeburg and Schönberg, growing up in a devout Lutheran household.
Barlach began his artistic training at the Gewerbeschule Hamburg (Hamburg School of Applied Arts) from 1888 to 1891.
He continued his studies at the Königliche Akademie der bildenden Künste zu Dresden (Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden) between 1891 and 1895, creating his first major sculpture, Die Krautpflückerin (The Herb Plucker).
He briefly studied at the Académie Julian in Paris from 1895 to 1897 but remained critical of simply copying French styles.
Initially, Barlach worked in an Art Nouveau style, creating illustrations for the magazine Jugend and ceramic sculptures.
A pivotal trip to Russia in 1906 profoundly influenced his artistic direction, exposing him to new perspectives and a more expressive aesthetic.
Financial support from art dealer Paul Cassirer allowed Barlach to develop his unique style, focusing on the emotional intensity of human figures.
He drew inspiration from early Gothic art, particularly its dramatic drapery and spiritual yearning.
Barlach’s work also reflects influences from Russian folk art and a growing interest in portraying the lives of ordinary people.
Barlach's sculptures, prints, and writings often explored themes of human suffering, spiritual longing, and social injustice.
His figures are characterized by their elongated forms, expressive gestures, and a sense of inner turmoil.
He frequently used wood carving and bronze as his primary mediums, emphasizing the tactile qualities of these materials.
The Singing Man, Frenzy (Der Berserker), and Shepherd in a Storm are examples of his emotionally charged and symbolic works.
Initially, Barlach was a patriotic supporter of World War I, anticipating artistic renewal through conflict.
His experience as an infantry soldier from 1915 to 1916 profoundly changed his views, transforming him into a staunch pacifist.
The horrors of war became a central theme in his subsequent work, leading to powerful anti-war sculptures like Der Rächer (The Avenger).
Barlach gained significant recognition after the war, becoming a member of prestigious art academies in Prussia and Munich.
However, his anti-war stance and expressive style drew criticism during the rise of Nazism.
His works were labeled as “degenerate art” by the Nazi regime and confiscated from museums.
The Magdeburg Cenotaph, a WWI memorial depicting the pain and futility of war, sparked intense controversy and was temporarily removed.
Ernst Barlach died in Güstrow, Mecklenburg, on October 24th, 1938, but his artistic legacy endures.
He is considered one of the most important German Expressionist sculptors of the 20th century.
His work continues to resonate with audiences today, offering a powerful commentary on the human condition and the devastating consequences of war.
Barlach’s commitment to artistic integrity in the face of political oppression makes him an important figure in art history.
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Look closely
The Singing Man — Ernst Barlach
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The dominant color of "The Singing Man" by Ernst Barlach is phthalo green (#2b2222).
The X-Ray view of "The Singing Man" by Ernst Barlach is on the artwork's X-Ray page: an interactive examination of the image through eleven optical layers.
"The Singing Man" is brilliant overall, and its luminance is luminous.