En nòg een vlegel (er zijn er nog meer) 1923

Erich Wichmann made this drawing in 1923, using what looks like charcoal on paper. It’s all about the line, isn't it? Raw, simple, like a thought jotted down before it fades away. You get the sense Wichmann wasn't trying to hide anything, the charcoal almost crumbles onto the page. The texture of the paper plays a big part, it’s not smooth, you can see the grain coming through, giving the drawing a kind of earthy feel. Look at the way the line wavers, especially around the head of the figure, it’s tentative, searching. It’s like he’s feeling his way through the form, not quite sure what he’ll find. It’s this vulnerability that makes the piece so compelling. Wichmann reminds me a little of Alfred Kubin, both artists tap into that primal, slightly unsettling side of the imagination. Art isn't about answers, it's about the questions.