"Nous devons mourir, nous et tout ce qui est notre" 1922

Georges Rouault has created this brooding figure with stark monochromatic washes of ink. I'm imagining him, dipping his brush in ink, again and again, a somber meditation taking shape. The stark black ink against the pale support creates a dramatic contrast, evoking a mood of introspection, maybe even sorrow. I feel the weight of the ink, pooling in certain areas, then thinning to ghostly washes. Her bowed head and the hand gently touching her face suggest a moment of deep reflection. What’s she thinking, I wonder? The bold lines defining her form remind me a little of the raw intensity you see in Käthe Kollwitz's prints. Both artists use stark lines and tonal contrasts to convey deep emotion and social commentary. There's a sense of shared humanity in their work, a connection to the raw and vulnerable aspects of human existence. Ultimately, Rouault’s work leaves us with questions rather than answers, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of life, death, and the human condition. Just like all us painters trying to figure out what the hell we're doing.