Demaskiert (Unmasks) 1921

Ernst Oppler made this small etching, "Demaskiert," which means "Unmasked" in German, on a plate, sometime before 1929. It depicts two figures running across the space. I can imagine Oppler hunched over his plate, carefully etching the lines that make up these figures. Notice how light they are, barely there! This artwork evokes a sense of playful mystery. The title suggests a moment of revelation, perhaps a chase or a game of hide-and-seek. The figures, rendered in delicate lines, are caught in mid-motion, their forms dissolving into the pale background. Oppler’s light touch creates a sense of airiness, as if the scene is a fleeting memory. The subject matter reminds me of Impressionist painters like Degas, and their interest in capturing the fleeting moments of contemporary life. Oppler, like them, embraced the immediacy of the present. Each artist builds on the work of those who came before!