Demain sera beau, disait le naufrage 1922

Georges Rouault made this, Demain sera beau, disait le naufrage, and the title translates as 'Tomorrow will be beautiful, said the shipwreck'. The tonality in the piece speaks of working something until it is ruined, and then finding the beauty in that ruined state. The surface quality has a textural richness, you can almost feel the weight of the ink. Look closely at the dark line around the central figure, notice how the black ink bleeds into the surrounding areas, blurring the distinction between figure and ground. The intentional crudeness reminds me of some of Guston's prints, there is a rawness of emotion. The title adds another layer of meaning, a glimmer of hope amid destruction. Rouault's work often grapples with themes of suffering and redemption, and that search for beauty in unexpected places is a quality that continues to resonate.