Pantagruel: Livre V, Chapter XXXVI - "Les Fresques" c. 1942

Bernard Reder made this intriguing print, "Pantagruel: Livre V, Chapter XXXVI - "Les Fresques," and it's a real playground of line and form. Reder dives deep into the process of artmaking, and you can sense him enjoying the ride. The piece is all about texture – the lines are so close together they almost vibrate, creating a dynamic surface. The figures are built up from these dense marks, which creates an interesting push and pull. Look at the figure on the left, with the snake coiled around them. See how the lines define the curves of the body, but also create a sense of depth and shadow? Reder reminds me of artists like Max Beckmann, who also weren't afraid to embrace the grotesque and the absurd. Ultimately, Reder's print celebrates the ongoing conversation of art, where influences blend and transform, inviting us to find our own interpretations in its energetic chaos.