Happy New Year, 1971 (Bonne Annee, 1971) 1971

Albert Edgar Yersin made this etching, Happy New Year, 1971, with ink on paper. There's a real sense of play in the marks here. It's as if Yersin is improvising, letting one line suggest the next. The texture is incredible. The density of the etching creates a tactile surface, and look at how he uses line to create areas of light and shadow. See that kidney-bean shape, floating near the center? The way it's outlined and filled with light makes it feel almost like a portal. Then there's the cross-hatched square, like a window onto another dimension. This reminds me of Paul Klee's playful approach to abstraction. Both artists create worlds that are both whimsical and deeply thought-provoking. Ultimately, art is about asking questions, not providing answers. It is an invitation to see the world in new and unexpected ways.