German school, early 20th century.

German school, early twentieth century.
"Contertulios de taberna". 1917.
Oil on cardboard.
Work presented at an exhibition of German painting in Berlin, 1917, according to the label.
Illegible signature.
Measurements: 78 cm x 64 cm; 120 cm x 100 cm (frame).

We are in front of a scene of tavern, although this one is hardly insinuated by a single table to the right. A character in a cape has just entered the tavern, where a musician is playing a double bass in front of a few people. The work has a style close to expressionism, which was in vogue in the German and Central European avant-garde painting of the early twentieth century. The brushstroke is loose, vigorous and impastoed, with visible strokes and an almost somber atmosphere. The contours are suggested rather than defined; the figures emerge from the dark background by means of light and colored spots, without a clear line of separation. This approach suggests an interest in capturing the atmosphere, emotion and energy of the moment, rather than in precise detail.

This is probably a German or Austro-Hungarian painter active between 1900 and 1920, linked to late Impressionism with a strong transition to Expressionism, as seen in groups such as Die Brücke or Der Blaue Reiter, although this painting has a more urban and dark air.

The use of oil on cardboard reinforces the idea of a quick sketch or studio work, something common in painters who worked directly from life in cafes, taverns or everyday scenes. The scene seems to show a gathering, perhaps a café or tavern with musicians or social gatherers, which connects with themes very present in Central European painting of the time: bohemian life and social tension.

The date of the exhibition (Berlin, 1917) places this painting in the middle of the First World War. In those years, in Germany and Austria, currents such as expressionism were emerging, which sought to convey the emotional intensity and anxiety of the time. Although here there is a pictorial language that still maintains impressionistic features, there is also an expressive thrust in the way in which forms are distorted and dramatic hallmarks are accentuated. In 1917 Berlin, along with Paris, was a key center for avant-garde artists.