Der Herbstblatter [left half] 1949

Imre Reiner made this print, Der Herbstblatter [left half], sometime in 1949, and it's like he's speaking in a visual language of shapes and patterns. Look at how Reiner plays with the surface – the way the ink sits on the paper, creating these distinct, almost blocky forms. See the square of dark grey on the left with a delicate floral motif? The lines are both precise and organic, creating a tension between control and spontaneity. It’s like he’s wrestling with the materials, letting the texture of the woodblock become part of the image. And then there’s that raw, torn edge of the paper at the top. It reminds me of Kurt Schwitters. It’s like Reiner is saying that art isn’t just about the image, but about the whole messy process of making. It invites us to see the world in fragments, to find beauty in imperfection, and to embrace the unexpected.