17437 (_If the wife is a temptress ..._) 1932

This artwork, 17437 (_If the wife is a temptress ..._), by John Elsas, is a quirky little thing, isn't it? I wonder what Elsas was thinking when they made this. It’s as if the figure is emerging through trial, error, and intuition. The black ink is almost like a shadow self, with that bold red accent. The white face is almost bird-like. Is it a statement about desire, about danger? I sympathize with the artist. There's a definite nod to other painters here. I am thinking of Klee, but also Guston. Elsas is in conversation with the history of art. Artists are always in this ongoing exchange of ideas. You can see how this work embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations. It makes you think, doesn't it?