Minne in a Rocking Chair c. 1907

Jacques Villon made this print called Minne in a Rocking Chair, and straightaway you can see he’s working with lines and tones that are kinda soft and dreamy, not trying to nail down every detail. It’s like he’s more interested in the feeling of the thing, the process, rather than just copying what’s in front of him. The way the lines kinda build up around her legs, it’s like he’s feeling his way through the shape, not just outlining it. And see how the darks and lights play against each other, giving it this real sense of depth, like she’s almost floating in the air? The marks almost look like they are made with a drypoint needle, scratching the surface of the metal, that gives it that real tactile feel. It reminds me a bit of some of Picasso’s early prints. Both of them, in their own way, were pushing at the edges of what art could be, making it less about perfect representation and more about…well, more about everything else! It’s a reminder that art isn’t about answers, it’s about asking questions.