Staircase Alley in Fiesole c. 1930

Eva Marie Schlenzig made this print, Staircase Alley in Fiesole, using charcoal and crayon on paper. It's a moody scene, isn't it? It looks like it's been smudged and reworked, capturing a flurry of marks, a sense of something unresolved. I can imagine Eva working on this, maybe outside, trying to pin down what's in front of her. There's a real sense of place, the steepness of the stairs, the figures in conversation. The charcoal is applied in layers, each stroke building up to create this atmospheric scene. It feels immediate, like a quick sketch, but also considered, like she's trying to capture the essence of this place. The dark lines and the soft smudges create depth and shadow, pulling us into the alley. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz's prints, the way she uses line and shadow to evoke emotion. Artists are always in conversation with each other, don't you think? Sharing ideas and inspiring each other across time. Painting is like that, a constant exchange, a dialogue between artists, past and present. It embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning over fixed or definitive readings.