The Death of Venus 1938

Julien Alberts made this print, without a known date, using dark inks and an approach to mark making that’s pure expressionism. It’s all process, a total outpouring. Looking closely, you can see how the physicality of the medium shapes the feel of the work. The ink is dense, laid down in nervous strokes, giving everything a frantic energy. Check out the parallel lines in the lower-right corner – they're like the anxious scribbles of a mind trying to make sense of it all. The texture isn't just visual; you can almost feel the artist digging into the plate, wrestling with the image. It makes me think of Käthe Kollwitz, who knew a thing or two about channeling anguish through printmaking. Of course, "The Death of Venus" has its own peculiar vision, a collision of myth and modern dread. It’s a reminder that art doesn't need to be clear-cut; it’s a space for wrestling with questions, not pinning down answers.