Figurkomposition II 1912

J.A. Jerichau (II)'s Figurkomposition II is a drawing made with ink on paper, the precise date of which remains unknown. Look at these figures! I love the feeling of speed and immediacy; it’s like Jerichau was trying to capture a fleeting impression, maybe in a cafe? I can feel the scratch of the nib on paper as he's making his marks. Some are darker, bolder, others are just ghostly outlines – like he was unsure, feeling his way around the form. It feels unfinished, like a thought still in progress. I’m imagining Jerichau, his mind racing, trying to capture the essence of these figures with a few deft strokes. What were they saying? Were they lovers, friends, or strangers? We can't know. But, he’s clearly trying to get to something beyond mere representation. I think all mark-making shares a similar intention. Painters always build upon what's come before, riffing on the ideas of their predecessors while trying to find their own voice. It’s a conversation across time, don’t you think?