Publisher's Synopsis
William Kentridge frequently makes reference in his works to the printed oeuvre of the great German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. He incorporates Dürer's pictorial ideas and individual motifs, and, like Dürer, strategically employs the striking interplay of black lines and white paper to create his visual worlds. This results in a unique perspective on the medium of the black-and-white print. The juxtaposition of works by Kentridge and Dürer underscores the similarities and differences of the two artists in terms of media, aesthetics, and content. Starting from Kentridge's critical review of modernity, which challenges the era's claim to rationality and sophistication, the focus then shifts to the art of Dürer, whose works reflect the profound political, religious, and social upheavals at the dawn of the modern period. What emerges is a dynamic dialogue between two eras.