Drie bomen 1913

Jan Mankes made this tiny etching, Drie bomen, which means ‘three trees’, with a needle and acid on a copper plate. I love how these delicate lines create a world that’s both detailed and dreamy. You can see the marks where he’s bitten into the metal, making the print. It makes me think about Mankes, peering closely, scratching away at the plate, trying to catch the light as it filters through the branches. The trees themselves aren't grand or imposing; they seem vulnerable, almost like figures huddling together for warmth. It's funny, isn't it, how a simple etching of three trees can feel so full of feeling, and how Mankes converses with other artists through time by making it. It's this sense of quiet observation and careful attention to detail that I find so moving. Like a whisper that carries across time.