Children Playing 1954

Gunther Kraus created this image of acrobatic figures with simple lines and vibrant colors sometime in the mid-20th century. Just imagine him, maybe in his studio, maybe even outside, drawing these playful characters with such spontaneity. The palette is so cheerful, those reds, yellows, and blues outlining the figures; it makes you wonder, what was Kraus feeling as he made this? There's a kind of artlessness to it, which makes it all the more charming. The figures are stacked like a human totem pole, one holding a tiny cactus, which is a very quirky touch. You can almost sense the joyful energy Kraus was trying to capture. These simple forms remind me of Keith Haring, with his own figures dancing across the canvas. It’s like Kraus is joining a conversation with other artists across time, each adding their own voice. In the end, it's all about capturing a feeling, a moment, and leaving it open for us to interpret in our own way.