Symbolic Crucifixion 1922

František Drtikol made this image, Symbolic Crucifixion, in 1922. It’s a drawing, and it looks like it’s done with charcoal or maybe lithographic crayon because of the way the marks are built up. There's something compelling about the way the tones are layered to create a sense of depth and texture. Look at the way Drtikol renders the figure on the cross. It’s like he’s not just drawing a body but evoking a feeling, an atmosphere. The contrast between the darks and lights creates a certain drama, a tension that makes you want to lean in closer. Now, if you look at the figures surrounding the cross, you will see the way the artist has built up tones. The figures seem to writhe with despair. Drtikol reminds me of the Norwegian Expressionist Edvard Munch, who also explored themes of suffering and the human condition. Both artists understood the power of suggestion. They knew that art is not about depicting reality as it is, but about creating a space for feeling, for questioning, for imagining other possibilities.