Conspiracy, sheet 3 of the cycle »A Weavers’ Revolt«, 1893-1897

Four men have come together round a table at an inn to conspire to stage a revolt. Their aggressive gestures emphasise their determination. The man sitting at the table on the right places his clenched fist on the tabletop and talks insistently to two other men sitting in the dark. The fourth man, sitting at the narrow side of the table listens attentively. The clustering of the figures in this very confined space gives the scene a conspirational character. An additional sense of drama is created by the sharp contrast of light and shaded areas.

REJECTED VERSION

Käthe Kollwitz, Conspiracy, rejected first version, 1893-1897, line etching, drypoint and sandpaper, Kn 28 VII a