Gottlieb Säuselin the Improviser 1907

Moriz Jung made this print of Gottlieb Säuselin the Improviser, with what looks like woodblock and colour, and you can really see how the process of making art leaves its mark, so to speak. There’s this combination of black, white and yellow that feels so deliberate, and when I look at it, I think about the relationship between control and chance. The lines are crisp, yet there’s also a sense of playfulness, especially in the way the yellow pigment peeks through, sort of like the artist allowed it to have a mind of its own. Take the table setting at the bottom: the pig's head, the food, and the bottles are laid out like an absurdist feast. It's like Jung is saying art doesn't always have to be serious. It all reminds me a little of Kirchner, especially in the way the bold lines create such a strong graphic punch. But, in the end, this is its own thing, and it really speaks to the idea that art is always a conversation. It's about keeping an open mind, embracing ambiguity, and allowing for multiple interpretations.