Soriano nel Cimino 1924

Hermann Lismann made this drawing of Soriano nel Cimino with ink on paper. I love how the stark contrast of the ink creates such dramatic forms. You can see the mark-making so clearly. It’s like Lismann is figuring out the composition as he goes. The materiality of the ink gives the scene so much depth and texture. The way he’s used washes of diluted ink gives a sense of atmosphere, like a hazy day in the Italian countryside. And then, bam! Those sharp, dark lines bring everything into focus. Look at the way the ink pools in the shadows of the trees, creating these deep, velvety blacks. It’s almost like he's sculpting the landscape with light and shadow. The gate at the front is my favorite part, it frames the city in the background. Lismann reminds me of someone like Emil Nolde, with that same bold use of contrast and expressive mark-making. Art's just a conversation, right? Everyone riffing off each other, borrowing ideas, and making something new.