17163 („Nur die Liebesphantasie …“) 1932

This work, 17163, by John Elsas, is an early 20th century watercolor on paper. Look at the way these figures emerge from these wispy brushstrokes, a dance of light and form. There's something so delicate about the way Elsas handles the watercolor, almost as if he's trying to capture a fleeting thought. The paint is so thin, so transparent, that it barely registers on the paper, creating these subtle, dreamlike apparitions. Notice the way the brushstrokes trail off from the figures, like wisps of smoke, suggesting movement and transience. The way the paint bleeds into the paper, creating soft edges and hazy outlines feels very much of its time. It reminds me of artists like Odilon Redon, who were also exploring the realm of dreams and the unconscious. What does it mean? I have no idea, and maybe that’s the point. Art isn’t about answers; it’s about questions.