De Heerschers ("Gotsamesodemietere me gaone staoke!") 1923 - 1929

Erich Wichmann made this drawing titled 'De Heerschers' in 1923, with what looks like charcoal on paper. The drawing seems to emerge from the shadows, these four figures with looming faces. You can imagine the artist working and reworking, rubbing it back and forth, building up tones to create the image. It gives you a peek into the artist’s state of mind, his attitude, and what he wants to express. I wonder if he felt like this about the figures of authority he depicts. It's like he's building up this darkness and tension into these strange characters. Think about how the charcoal allows for these soft edges, how the light catches the surface. It's like he's inviting us into his head, into his world. The act of drawing, of making marks, it’s like a conversation—with oneself, with the medium, and with the world. Every stroke of charcoal is a new thought, a new feeling. The artwork becomes this meeting point, a space where these thoughts and feelings can be shared and experienced by others.