Der Flugel des Seltenen Erdbraun-Falters 1962

Imre Reiner created "Der Flugel des Seltenen Erdbraun-Falters," or "The Wing of the Rare Earth Brown Butterfly," using mixed media on paper. Reiner, a Jewish-Hungarian artist, lived through both World Wars, experiencing the rise of fascism and the horrors of the Holocaust, which led him to leave Germany and find refuge in Switzerland. The fluid, marbled background evokes the earth from which the butterfly emerges, while stark lines and splatters create a sense of fragility and disruption. The butterfly, often a symbol of transformation, appears here as a fractured form. Reiner’s aesthetic choices speak to the shattering impact of historical events, and reflect the complexities of identity in times of displacement. Reiner once said, "Art is a scream, a cry in the night, a laugh, a sigh." This piece, beyond its aesthetic appeal, becomes a poignant reflection on the search for beauty amidst trauma. It speaks to the resilience needed to navigate a world marked by conflict.