Illustration to Novalis, "Hymmen an die NachtRosenhammer" 1941

Imre Reiner made this illustration to Novalis’s “Hymmen an die NachtRosenhammer” using ink on paper. It’s all about the lines, how they build up the face and hair, giving a sense of depth with simple cross-hatching. You can almost feel the pen scratching across the page, searching for the form. The colour is restrained, just shades of blue-grey on a creamy background, but the texture comes alive through the pressure and direction of each stroke. Look at the way the lines around her eyes create a soft, almost melancholy gaze. It reminds me of Matisse, in the way he used line to capture a mood. It’s like Reiner is having a conversation with the poem, responding to its darkness and beauty with his own mark-making. Art is a constant exchange of ideas, and this piece feels like a quiet but powerful moment in that ongoing dialogue.