Rat 1918 - 1968

Jan Mankes made this etching of a rat sometime between 1905 and 1920, using a technique where the image is scratched into a metal plate, then printed. It's interesting how the image is barely there, like a ghost of a rat. The texture comes from those tiny, delicate lines that make up the rat’s form. See how the lines around the rat's back are a little darker and denser, giving it shape? And then the way the whiskers are just these super-fine, almost invisible strokes. It’s as if Mankes is whispering the rat into existence. The whole thing has this soft, gentle quality, even though rats aren't usually thought of as gentle creatures. Looking at this, I'm reminded of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s simple, honest portraits. Both artists had this knack for finding beauty and dignity in the everyday, turning something ordinary into something really special. It’s a reminder that art isn’t always about grand gestures; sometimes, it’s about noticing the quiet things.