16867 („Man muss die Fehler übersehen …“) 1932

This intriguing character, in 16867, seems to be made of watercolour and ink on paper by John Elsas. Look at the way the washes of colour create a mosaic across the figure’s form. It's like Elsas is building up this character, mark by mark, with each little stroke contributing to the overall shape and personality. The texture almost seems to vibrate – a lively surface that keeps the eye moving. I am drawn to the face, that single little eye. And the line in the lower half which seems to act as a ground for the figure. It makes me think about how we read faces into abstract shapes, and how much of an image relies on simple grounding structures to make it make sense. You could maybe think of Paul Klee here, with his similarly playful engagement with line, colour, and the figure. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue, with each artist adding their voice to a conversation that stretches across time.