Venetian II 1910

This is Hermann Struck's "Venetian II", an etching made sometime in the early 20th century. Look at how the lines build up! Struck isn't just drawing a face, he's building it, piece by piece. Artmaking is problem solving, and here, the problem is: How do you create depth and shadow with just lines? See how he uses dense, dark lines to create the beard, contrasting with the sparse, light lines of the face? It gives the whole image a real sense of texture. Notice the way the light catches the brow. And the eyes—they're almost lost in shadow, but they still feel so alive. Struck's work reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, another German artist who knew how to make a line sing. Both artists embraced the ambiguity of art, knowing that a single image can hold a multitude of meanings. It's all about the conversation, the back-and-forth between the artist, the artwork, and you.