Karikaturale figuur 1923

This little sketch, Karikaturale figuur, was made by Erich Wichmann, probably in 1923 if I'm reading that tiny writing right. It’s a simple charcoal drawing on a small piece of paper, very direct. The approach to mark making is what grabs me. It's not about perfection, it's about getting something down quickly. It's more about the energy of the line. It’s scratchy, broken, imperfect. It makes me think about how much art is just about process. The texture of the charcoal on the page gives it a raw, immediate feel. Look at the way the lines define the figure, how they waver and sometimes disappear. That's what painting, or drawing, is all about – letting the material do its thing, embracing the accidents. Wichmann reminds me a bit of George Grosz with his biting social commentary but done with such a light touch. Art is an ongoing conversation, and it's a beautiful thing when artists can speak to each other across time and space.