Plate from The Dreaming Youths Possibly 1907 - 1917

Oskar Kokoschka pulled this print from "The Dreaming Youths" in who knows what year. It’s teeming with earthy tones punctuated by vibrant hues. I bet he worked intuitively, allowing the composition to evolve organically. I like to imagine Kokoschka totally immersed in the act, carving each line, each form, and feeling his way through the story. The texture has this rough-hewn quality, but then there are pockets of smooth color that give the image a kind of dreamlike atmosphere. The gestures of the figures are so expressive, they feel raw and vulnerable and also super weird. Like in a fever dream. And, of course, the little bunny adds a touch of playful levity amidst all the drama. I see this as Kokoschka, a conversation between the artist, the medium, and the viewer. It’s like he is inviting us to participate in his process of discovery and interpretation. This print, like so much of his other work, is an expression of art as a tool for self-inquiry, pushing the boundaries of what painting and printmaking can be.