Four woodcuts in Der Anbruch

The serial publication Der Anbruch (1917–1923) coincided with the revolutionary upheaval in Germany that followed World War I and resolved uneasily in August 1919, with the proclamation of the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and the establishment of Germany’s first constitution. It was one of several pro-revolutionary periodicals for Expressionist artists and writers published at the time. Its publisher J. B. Neumann stated in March 1919 his own optimistic conviction about Expressionism, that "within a socialist society that is also free at heart, Expressionism—now no longer a concept but a magnificent reality—finds its confirmation in the world revolution that is beginning."

Neumann promoted Expressionists and other modern artists and writers through exhibitions, lectures, and publications. Moreover, in order to make the fine art prints accessible to a public beyond his wealthier collectors, he turned to electrotyping—the process of creating durable printing plates by using a mold of the original woodcut blocks, and electroplating the blocks with copper. Electrotyping enabled the reproduction of fine art prints in large circulation vehicles, like Der Anbruch. However, for marketing purposes Neumann maintained the distinction between original and reproduction, by making sure to indicate that each electrotype print was "after an original woodcut."