Illustration to Voltaire, "Candide" 1948

Imre Reiner’s 1948 woodcut “Illustration to Voltaire, ‘Candide’” is a striking example of Expressionism, a movement emphasizing emotional intensity over realistic representation. This artwork depicts a scene from Voltaire’s satirical novel “Candide,” featuring a man in a coat and hat, a woman’s face behind him, and a shadowy figure holding a sword in the upper right. The dark, stark lines of the woodcut lend a sense of drama and urgency to the scene, reflecting the novel’s critiques of optimism and blind faith. Reiner’s woodcut captures the satirical spirit of Voltaire’s work, emphasizing the chaos and absurdity of life.