Centaur op open plaats in het bos 1920 - 1935

Ker Xavier Roussel made this etching of a centaur in a forest clearing using a kind of tonal approach, building up the image with lots of tiny marks. It’s so dark in places, it’s like he's conjuring the scene from a dream. I love the way the figure emerges from the shadows. Roussel really plays with the texture of the print, using the grainy surface to create a hazy, almost mystical atmosphere. The dark, dense patches contrast with the lighter areas, making the centaur seem to shimmer in the forest light. Look at how the trees are just suggested with these quick, scratchy lines. Roussel reminds me of Odilon Redon, who also explored these dreamy, Symbolist themes. It's like they're both inviting us to wander into a world that's more felt than seen, a place where anything is possible.