Illustration to Novalis, "Heinrich von Ofterdingen" 1941

Imre Reiner created this illustration to Novalis’s "Heinrich von Ofterdingen" in 1941. Look at the textures and patterns, the ways Reiner has built up a sense of place and mood through mark-making. I can imagine him, head down, closely attending to the surface as it emerges. There's such a strong contrast between light and dark here. The moon feels like a spotlight, illuminating the scene and casting long shadows. The trees are so dense, almost gothic, while the stonework has a certain solidity, anchoring the composition. This piece feels like a study in contrasts, a way of exploring the tensions between nature and architecture, light and darkness, reality and imagination. I love how the artist’s hand is present in every mark. It is not so different from the way artists respond to one another, building on what’s come before, conversing across time.