immendorf cafe 2 Jorg Immendorf

The composition presents a crowded interior space, seemingly a café or public gathering place, rendered in a highly stylized and distorted manner. A strong sense of claustrophobia is established by the density of figures and the compressed perspective. The viewers vantage point appears elevated, looking down upon the scene from an oblique angle.
Here we see numerous individuals depicted with elongated limbs and exaggerated facial features. Their expressions are largely obscured or impassive, contributing to a feeling of detachment and alienation. Many hold newspapers or other printed materials, suggesting a preoccupation with information or perhaps a form of passive engagement. The figures appear to be arranged around tables, but the spatial relationships are ambiguous; depth is flattened, and traditional perspective is disregarded in favor of an unsettling visual compression.
A large striped umbrella dominates the foreground, its vibrant orange and brown hues contrasting sharply with the predominantly dark palette of the scene. This element serves as a focal point, yet it also contributes to the overall sense of disorientation. The light source appears to emanate from above and behind the central figures, casting harsh shadows and highlighting their distorted forms.
The artist placed several avian elements throughout the composition – what appear to be bird-like heads or appendages sprout from some of the figures, while others are depicted as fully formed birds perched on tables or hovering in the background. These recurring motifs introduce a layer of symbolic complexity; they could represent freedom, surveillance, or perhaps a commentary on human nature itself.
The overall effect is one of unsettling ambiguity and psychological unease. The scene seems to depict not merely a social gathering but also a critique of societal norms, communication, and the individuals place within a collective. The distorted forms and flattened perspective suggest a breakdown in conventional reality, inviting contemplation on themes of isolation, conformity, and the anxieties inherent in modern existence.