Esther 6:10 1965

This print, Esther 6:10, was made by Rein Dool in 1965. Look at the stark contrasts between light and shadow – the artist must have been thinking hard about how to create something so emotionally charged, using such a limited palette. The scene is dark, chaotic. It's hard to know exactly what is going on, but the crowd feels aggressive. What was Dool thinking as he made this? What was he trying to communicate? The lines are jagged and scratchy, conveying the feeling of tension. Each mark feels like a little scream, an echo of the artist's own internal world. It reminds me a bit of the German Expressionists. The work of Kathe Kollwitz comes to mind. Ultimately, it's the ongoing dialogue between artists across time that enriches our understanding of art and life. I think Dool would agree.