Mountain Landscape 1924

Erich Heckel made this landscape, using etching, at some point in the 20th century. The mark making is so interesting here, like the whole image is built up of a network of tiny scratches. Looking closely like this gets me thinking about the labor of art, and how the process of making something is so important. I'm really drawn to the area around the peak of the mountain – those quick, sharp lines give a real sense of height and drama, and they contrast so well with the softer, more rounded forms lower down. The mountain feels massive and imposing, but also kind of fragile, like it could crumble away at any moment. I think Heckel is really good at creating a sense of tension in this piece, a feeling that things are not quite stable or settled. You can see a similar intensity in the work of Emil Nolde, another German Expressionist, though Nolde's work is generally more colorful and emotional. For Heckel, like many artists, the conversation and exchange of ideas across time is really important, it all keeps us going.