Untitled 1938

This untitled print by Imre Reiner presents us with a book, rendered in simple lines alongside flora and a feather quill. The book, traditionally a vessel of knowledge and enlightenment, is here repurposed as a surface for still life, a dormant object made to bloom with life. Consider how the quill, a symbol of the written word, extends its significance. The feather, weightless, yet capable of inscribing volumes. Across time, the feather has appeared not just as a writing instrument but also as a symbol of flight, freedom, and the divine. In ancient Egyptian iconography, feathers adorned deities, embodying truth and justice. The image also conjures notions of transience, a meditation on the passing of time. It’s a powerful image, inviting us to reflect on the cyclical nature of knowledge, art, and life itself.