Museum-quality giclée or canvas print with fast production and flexible finish options. ( Buy Hand Made Painting
Switch to Digital Image)
Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.
Type the width and the height you need, to fit your frame or your wall. A print can only be cut, never made bigger than the picture, so a size with a different shape loses a part of the image. We send you a digital mockup to approve before we print anything. The picture shown on this page does not show the real cut — only the mockup does.
Worldwide Delivery () in 2 weeks instead of standard 4/5 weeks. (22 October)
Panic Terror
Reproduction Size
Ernst Barlach’s “Panic Terror,” created in 1912, stands as a visceral testament to the anxieties simmering beneath the surface of early twentieth-century Europe. This striking wooden sculpture depicts two figures locked in a brutal struggle—a dynamic portrayal that transcends mere physicality and delves into the psychological torment inherent in confrontation.
The sculpture’s subject matter is deliberately unsettling: two men wrestling, their bodies intertwined in an agonized dance of resistance. The positioning of one figure dominating the other underscores themes of power imbalance and vulnerability—a visual metaphor for broader societal tensions. Barlach meticulously crafted the scene to capture a moment of intense emotion, prioritizing expressive gesture over idealized form.
“Panic Terror” firmly establishes itself within the Expressionist movement, rejecting Impressionistic aesthetics in favor of conveying inner turmoil through distorted forms and exaggerated musculature. Barlach’s masterful use of wood—specifically Baltic birch—allowed him to achieve remarkable detail while maintaining a raw, tactile quality that embodies the sculpture's emotional core. The sculptor employed subtractive carving techniques, meticulously removing material to reveal the underlying structure and emphasize the contours of the figures.
The creation of “Panic Terror” coincided with a period marked by escalating anxieties surrounding the impending First World War. Barlach’s artistic sensibilities were profoundly shaped by this climate, reflecting a deep concern for human suffering and injustice. Like many Expressionist artists of his time, he sought to communicate profound emotional truths—fear, desperation, and defiance—rather than simply documenting observable reality.
More than just depicting a physical altercation, “Panic Terror” operates on symbolic levels. The wrestling figures represent the clash between opposing ideologies or perhaps the internal battles waged within individuals confronting adversity. Barlach’s deliberate simplification of form contributes to this symbolic resonance, stripping away extraneous detail to focus solely on conveying emotion and embodying the essence of human struggle. The stark white wall against which the sculpture is displayed serves as a neutral backdrop, amplifying the sculpture's dramatic impact.
Among Ernst Barlach's recorded themes - anti-war stance, expressionist style, lutheran faith, human conflict, sculptor’s legacy - "Panic Terror" brings its own focus on sculpture, wrestling, struggle, conflict, emotion, wood, lutheranism.
The 1912 date places "Panic Terror" in the Mature Period of Ernst Barlach's development.
"Panic Terror" by Ernst Barlach shows a monochromatic color intensity.
1870 - 1938