Small Flowers of Saint Francis 1928

Emile Bernard made this Small Flowers of Saint Francis using lithography, and it’s all about the power of line. Look at how the stark black ink defines the figures, giving them this almost raw, immediate presence. You get the sense that Bernard wasn’t fussing too much, but just letting the story unfold through his hand. The devilish figure lurking at the bottom, with his crude, almost comical features, is particularly striking. Bernard doesn’t hide the messiness of the line work; it’s right there, part of the expression. It’s like he’s saying, "Here’s the struggle, the doubt, the darkness," all laid bare. The frame is as important as the central image, full of angels, demons, flowers, and curious figures. Bernard reminds me a bit of someone like Otto Dix, who also wasn't afraid to show the gritty side of things. But while Dix was all about the harsh realities of the modern world, Bernard seems to be searching for something more spiritual, even as he acknowledges the darkness within. It's this tension that makes the work so compelling.