Zwei lesende Frauen in einem Zimmer 1902

Ferdinand Balzer made this hazy image of two women in a room, it looks like it was painted in a flurry of activity, with charcoal or chalky pastels. You can imagine the artist working quickly, trying to capture the low light in the room that almost obscures the women's faces, and makes it difficult to decipher the scene in front of us. The subdued tones and visible strokes create a somber atmosphere that contrasts with the intimate subject matter of two women reading side by side. It feels like Balzer is saying something about the quiet of domestic life, and the peace of reading. In many ways, making a painting is like having a conversation, not only with the subject but with the history of mark-making, so while Balzer may not be a household name, artists like him are in constant dialogue with each other, exchanging ideas and inspiring new ways of seeing. And ultimately, that’s what art is about.