Mardi Gras 1946

Alfred Bendiner made this print, Mardi Gras, using lots of tiny hatched lines that build up a whole world. It’s like he’s thinking with the tool, letting the marks accumulate to find the image. Look at how Bendiner uses these lines to create texture and movement. You can almost hear the music and feel the energy of the parade. The figures are so lively, each with their own unique costume and expression. I am drawn to the figures to the centre of the parade carrying drums, the cross-hatching here is so dark and dense that the drummers appear to be emerging from the shadows, contributing to the overall sense of mystery. Bendiner reminds me of someone like James Ensor, who also loved to depict crowds and carnivals with a touch of the grotesque. Both artists embraced the chaotic and absurd aspects of human life, reminding us that art can be a space for play, experimentation, and endless interpretation.