Illustration to V. Hofmannsthal, "Andreas" c. 1944

This is Imre Reiner's Illustration to V. Hofmannsthal’s "Andreas," made with printmaking techniques. The marks feel immediate, like Reiner is sketching an idea out as he goes. Look at how the lines define the figure's face and the textures of the drapery; they’re economical, yet full of expression. There's a dance between the solid forms and the open spaces, the black ink creating a sense of depth and shadow. The lines in the background are more chaotic, scratchy, expressive of a kind of abstract space, or psychological landscape. The way the ink sits on the page, not too precious, is what I like. It reminds me of work by artists like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who also used printmaking to explore psychological themes. I love how printmaking, with its capacity for multiples, allows ideas to evolve and transform. It's like each impression is a new conversation, a new way of seeing.