Gargantua: Le peintre du Roi (a la R.) c. 1942

Bernard Reder created this work, "Gargantua: Le peintre du Roi," using engraving techniques to produce stark contrasts and intricate textures. The composition is divided into two main parts: the artist seated in the foreground and the painting on an easel in the background. Note how Reder uses hatching and cross-hatching to define form and volume, creating a rich interplay of light and shadow. The seated artist seems almost sculptural, a testament to Reder's background as a sculptor. The painting within the engraving disrupts traditional notions of perspective and representation. The human figure appears distorted, almost surreal, which could be Reder's way of challenging fixed meanings in art. The figure's exaggerated form hints at the grotesque and may reference the writings of Rabelais. Notice again how the contrast between the detailed foreground and the fantastical background invites us to consider the relationship between the artist, their creation, and the world they inhabit. This challenges our conventional way of thinking about art and its role in reflecting or distorting reality.