Elopement 1918

This etching, "Elopement", was made by Hans Meid at an unknown date. It’s a real testament to how much emotion and narrative can be packed into simple lines. Look at how Meid uses hatching to build up tone and texture. The marks aren’t just descriptive; they’re expressive, creating a palpable sense of atmosphere. Notice the figure on the right, perhaps a parent, reaching out in distress at the sight of the eloping couple on horseback, with a further figure leading another horse. The dramatic lighting and sketchy lines add to the intensity. The night sky is rendered with soft, almost blurry lines, contrasting with the sharper, more defined marks on the figures. It’s as if the night itself is a character in this drama. Meid's work shares some of the same anxieties and emotional intensity that you find in artists like Edvard Munch. It makes you think about art as a conversation across time, where artists borrow, respond, and reinterpret each other’s ideas.