Der Berg Montserrat mit dem Benediktinerkloster Santa Maria de Montserrat 1928

Hermann Lismann made this drawing of Montserrat mountain with the Santa Maria monastery, with what looks like ink or watercolor. Just imagine the sweep of the brush, up and down, to create those craggy peaks! It’s all monochrome, black and white, except it's not, because there are so many shades of gray in between. I can almost feel what it was like for Lismann standing there looking at that mountain, working fast, trying to capture it all. Mountains are so hard to paint. I am thinking about artists like Cezanne, who struggled to capture mountains, too. I'm moved by the fluidity of the brushwork and the way he handled the light and shade. He was definitely inspired, and he let the ink flow. Artists are always looking at other artist’s works, responding, and evolving. It is a conversation through time, and we are all invited to listen and participate.