17869 (_In the apple tree …_) 1932

John Elsas made this collage, 17869 (_In the apple tree …_), at an unknown date using paper and ink. I love how Elsas combines drawing, writing, and collage, using these processes to create a playful narrative. The texture of the paper is soft, almost like fabric, and the colors are muted, giving the piece a dreamlike quality. The two pink figures have a certain energy, their sharp edges contrasting with the flowing script and the soft, rounded shape of the tree. Look at how the artist positioned the hand coming from behind the hill, its brown fingers reaching out like it’s ready to grab the tree. It’s such a simple gesture, but it adds a layer of mystery and maybe even a bit of darkness to the piece. You can see a connection between this piece and outsider artists like Adolf Wölfli, who also created intricate, otherworldly artworks using unconventional materials and methods. Like Wölfli, Elsas invites us to embrace ambiguity and see the world through a unique, imaginative lens.