Illustration to Novalis, "Heinrich von Ofterdingen" 1940

This illustration to Novalis’s "Heinrich von Ofterdingen" was made by Imre Reiner, probably with ink on paper. What strikes me are these figures emerging out of dark, scratchy lines. There’s something raw and immediate, almost as if the image appeared spontaneously. I imagine Reiner, pen in hand, lost in thought, trying to capture the essence of the novel's romanticism. He might be thinking about the contrast between light and shadow, the tangible and the intangible. I can see him making quick, decisive marks, letting the texture of the paper guide his hand. The lines create depth and movement, especially in the figure on the right, where strokes of black and white dance together, defining their form and presence. It reminds me of other expressionist artists who weren't afraid to explore the darker, more turbulent aspects of human experience through their work. It’s like he's inviting us to contemplate what lies beneath the surface.