Raven on birch tree 1920

Jan Mankes made this image of a raven on a birch tree, likely on paper, using ink. The limited palette and linear quality focuses my attention on the relationship between the marks and the surface. It's a balance between representation and abstraction. Look at the way Mankes renders the raven's feathers. The long, deliberate strokes create a sense of depth and texture. It's almost as if he's trying to capture the essence of each feather, its unique shape and form. It makes me think about the physicality of artmaking, how each gesture, each mark, is a conscious decision. How the artist is in conversation with the artwork, responding to the surface and the material, feeling around for an image to emerge. Mankes reminds me of Odilon Redon. Both artists used limited palettes to conjure fantastical images, but for me, there's something more grounded in Mankes' approach. More real. Ultimately, art is about asking questions, not providing answers.