Gargantua en deuil de Badebec 1942

Bernard Reder created this intriguing print, “Gargantua en deuil de Badebec”, with a sharp eye and an even sharper tool. He dug into the plate to create a world of contrasts, a simple black and white that vibrates with energy. Look closely at Gargantua’s face, the way Reder uses lines to define his features. The density of marks around his hat, as opposed to the smooth, blank area of his face, creates depth and a play of light. It’s like Reder is saying, "Here's a face, but also, here's a process, a way of seeing and making." He's not hiding the work, but celebrating it. I’m reminded of Käthe Kollwitz, in the way Reder uses printmaking to convey raw emotion. Both artists embrace the starkness of the medium, finding beauty in the tension between light and dark. Art is a conversation, an echo of voices across time. It's about how we see, how we feel, and how we keep the dialogue going.