Demaskiert (Unmasks) 1921

Ernst Oppler made this etching, Demaskiert, which translates to Unmasked, at an unknown date. The soft, grey scale is full of atmosphere; it's like a half-remembered dream of the demimonde. The image is an ephemeral sketch of two figures, a man and a woman, in a state of flight; they could be running away from something, or towards something. Their clothes are rendered with quick, feathery lines, especially the woman's dress which is a cloud of frills and folds. Look at the way Oppler uses the etching to create a sense of movement and energy, those lines are like shorthand for the gestures of their bodies. This work has something in common with the etchings of James Ensor, another artist who had a unique vision and a flair for the grotesque. Like Ensor, Oppler seems to be interested in the performative aspects of social life, and the way that appearances can be deceiving. This piece is so ambiguous, it leaves a lot to the imagination.