Illustration to Goethe's "Novelle" Possibly 1943

Imre Reiner made this illustration to Goethe's "Novelle" using etching techniques, which gives it that wonderful, slightly crusty texture, like old paper. The limited palette and the way the image is built up from these delicate lines really highlights the process. Look closely and you’ll see the textures created by the etching – it’s almost as if the image is emerging from the surface, a bit like a photographic print developing in the darkroom. The bold strokes that form the lion’s mane are just gorgeous, they have this wild energy, yet they’re so controlled and precise. That contrast between the controlled and the chaotic really grabs my attention. Reiner reminds me of artists like Paula Rego, who also use narrative and illustration to tap into something deeper and darker. And that’s what makes art so exciting; it’s not about answers, but about opening up new ways of seeing and feeling.