In den herberg van "Moeder Europa" 1922

J. Bretschneider made "In den herberg van 'Moeder Europa'" with pen and ink, a perfect medium for capturing the scene's satirical energy. I love the way the lines vary – some are quick and sketchy, others dark and deliberate, like when I’m trying to find the right shape in my paintings. The composition has a fantastic flow, the figures almost tumbling across the space, united by the artist's linework. See how the weight of the seated man with his back to us is described by the heavy line of the chair? It’s almost a caricature of power, contrasted with the more relaxed figures behind. There is a skull on the floor in the lower left corner, its cartoonish qualities undercutting the inherent seriousness of the object. I'm reminded of Philip Guston’s late work; he also used caricature to highlight the absurdity of violence. Art is this ongoing conversation across time, a visual call and response, where meaning is never fixed but always in flux.