Twee kevers in een eikenboom c. 1910 - 1937

Willem Wenckebach made "Two Beetles in an Oak Tree" using pen and ink; this drawing is a real feat of mark making, each tiny line working together to create form and texture. I really admire the almost scientific precision of the line work here, which describes everything from the segmented bodies of the beetles to the crinkled edges of the oak leaves. The controlled hatching creates a sense of depth, but it’s not just about rendering something realistically. There’s a certain whimsical quality, especially in the way the beetles are perched on the leaves as if they’re posing for a portrait. Look at the way the light falls across the beetle in the foreground; the artist has used a dense network of lines to build up areas of shadow, and little specks to give a mottled effect to the shell. It's a great example of how a simple medium can be used to create something really compelling. This reminds me of Albrecht Dürer, who was a master of the engraved line. It’s like they’re both reminding us that art is a conversation, an ongoing dialogue across time.