Waiting for the Barbarians

Waiting for the Barbarians is a 2007 painting by the German artist Neo Rauch. To the right in the picture is a carnival where a minotaur is cheered on a stage, while to the left another minotaur is about to be burned at the stake. The picture also includes several other people and creatures. The title is taken from the poem "Waiting for the Barbarians" by Constantine P. Cavafy. It was one of fourteen paintings in Rauch's exhibition Para, which was made for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and exhibited there in 2007. It is kept at The Broad in Los Angeles. Description To the left, under a clear blue sky, is a barrack, and in front of it a minotaur is strapped to a stake prepared with firewood. In the middle of the picture, a woman lies on her back with a ball in her hand, while a creature with a long red beak touches her breast with a rod. Behind her is another woman who looks out to the left, and behind her a black panther is turned to the right. In the right part of the picture is a carnival with a shooting gallery and a stage where a minotaur is presented to a cheering audience. The painting was made using oil on canvas and has the dimensions 150 x 400 centimeter.