Old Man Reading 1909

Albrecht Anker made this painting of an old man reading, and I just want to let my eyes sink into it. I want to imagine the slow layering of thin washes of watercolor to build up the form of his face and beard, and how that emerges. Look at how his hand supports his head, what a gesture! The artist is great at showing the figure's thoughtful concentration. I can imagine Anker thinking about old age, and the accumulation of knowledge, as he made this. Anker's work often depicted scenes of everyday life, particularly those of children and rural communities. This painting offers a window into a quieter, more introspective moment, but it’s like he’s looking at a kid—there's an openness and sensitivity to the subject here, in the same vein. Painters are always in conversation, aren’t they? We all learn from looking at one another's work. It makes me wonder what books inspired Anker, or what other paintings he admired. Maybe we’ll never know.