Alexander og Diogenes 1901

Gudmund Hentze made this print of Alexander and Diogenes, and I love how he’s used the simplicity of line to create such expressive figures. The whole thing is rendered in these thin, almost scratchy marks, which gives it a raw, immediate feel, like it’s just sprung from the artist’s mind. Look at the face of Diogenes; it’s all angles and slyness, isn't it? The lines are so alive, they practically vibrate. Hentze’s line work isn't just descriptive, it’s emotional; it’s like he’s drawing with his feelings, you know? Even though it’s just black ink on paper, there’s a depth there, a weight. It makes me think of someone like George Grosz, who also used line to such satirical and cutting effect. But Hentze has his own voice. It's a testament to how much you can do with so little, embracing the kind of looseness that allows for the unexpected to occur.