17175 („Die Wissenschaft der Börse …“) 1932

This mixed media piece, of paper collage and ink, probably made in 1932 by John Elsas, presents us with two figures on a snowy ground. It's intriguing, isn't it? You can almost feel Elsas piecing it together, shifting fragments until a world starts to emerge. I imagine him searching for the right color, the perfect texture, to give each character its strange individuality. I'm particularly drawn to the taller figure, who looks as though it is wearing a hat. Elsas’s figures are more than just shapes; they're emotional resonators, each tiny collage element a carefully considered decision. This piece reminds me of Kurt Schwitters, who elevated collage to high art. Elsas, like Schwitters, seems to be in conversation with the world around him. This conversation carries through time, artists speaking to one another through their work, challenging, inspiring, and pushing the boundaries of what art can be.