Procession 1919

František Drtikol made this drawing, Procession, in charcoal, and it's like a hazy dreamscape. The charcoal is smudged and blended, which softens the whole scene, making it feel kind of mysterious, like looking back through time. The texture Drtikol coaxes out of the charcoal is really something. The steep walls are rough and craggy, with these deep shadows that make them feel huge and imposing. Then, there's that little group of figures in the distance – just quick, gestural marks, but they’re so full of movement. Look how they’re all heading towards that dark opening, as if answering some sort of call. The dark marks become sparser towards the bottom of the page, and it almost feels like the figures are walking towards us. I can’t help but think of the prints of Käthe Kollwitz, who also understood the power of charcoal to convey the weight of the world. Ultimately, Drtikol's Procession invites us to contemplate the journey, the unknown, and the shared human experience.