Jerusalem, Kidrontal und Siloa 1925

Jakob Nussbaum made this artwork, Jerusalem, Kidrontal und Siloa, in 1923 using what looks like ink and graphite on paper. I imagine the artist standing on a hillside, squinting in the sun, rapidly sketching the landscape as it unfolds before him. The hillside in this drawing is rendered through short, hatched marks, creating a sense of depth and texture, as if you could reach out and feel the grit and grain of the earth. The overall feeling of this landscape reminds me of some of Guston's ink drawings, with a nervous line quality capturing the energy and urgency of being present in a place. The drawing is made of layers of marks, where the artist is trying to capture both the specificity of this place and a more emotional or subjective response. It’s like he’s trying to figure something out, not just record what he sees. I feel like Jakob is inviting us to share in his wonder and curiosity.