Promersi d'an Marinaio (?) 1941

Imre Reiner made "Promersi d'an Marinaio" in 1941, probably using a printmaking technique. What strikes me first is the cross hatching. It's like Reiner is thinking out loud with his marks, building up tone and form through these layers of tiny lines. There's a real sense of process here, of the artist figuring things out as he goes. Look at the way he renders the guitar, the body of the instrument shimmers, like he’s evoking a feeling of resonance. The marks create this sense of depth and texture. The woman in the background seems like an afterthought, but her gaze and his are connected through the form of the guitar. I think of someone like Max Beckmann, especially in the way Reiner uses line to create a kind of emotional tension. Ultimately, this is what art is all about: a conversation across time, artists responding to each other, building on what came before, and always leaving room for new interpretations.