Alexander og Diogenes 1901

Gudmund Hentze made this ink drawing of Alexander and Diogenes. Look at those crisp black lines carving out the scene, thick and thin, bold and delicate. I’m thinking about Hentze at his table, nib pen in hand, meditating on these two dudes from history. He’s probably thinking about power, and what it means to be free. I wonder if he felt more like Alexander, the big shot, or Diogenes, the freethinker. Notice how Alexander’s got this laurel wreath, and a smug look on his face, while Diogenes is all raggedy, but seems way more alive? It's like Hentze is asking, who's really got it together? The texture of the ink creates a real mood, right? It’s not just a drawing, it’s a little stage for a big question, something we’re still chewing on today. Artists, we’re always riffing off each other, across time.