Lithograph No.14 c. 1913 - 1917

Rudolf Bauer made this lithograph, one of a series, using black ink to create strong contrasts and dynamic shapes. I imagine him working directly on the stone, feeling the resistance of the surface as he drew these bold lines. There's a real sense of energy here, like the image is vibrating. The way the lines converge and intersect creates a feeling of depth, as if we're looking into some kind of abstract space. What was Bauer thinking when he made this? Was he trying to capture a feeling, a memory, or some kind of inner vision? It reminds me of other artists who were experimenting with abstraction at the time, trying to find new ways of representing the world beyond just what we see. Bauer’s work is part of an ongoing conversation, inspiring artists like me to keep pushing the boundaries of what painting can be.