Portret van Beint Mankes 1914

Jan Mankes made this portrait of Beint Mankes using a printmaking process. What I love is how the lines create these forms, like strands of hair meticulously placed or wrinkles mapping the face. The texture feels almost tactile, the engraved lines giving depth and a sense of age. Look closely, you can almost feel the sharpness of the tool that created those marks. The limited palette focuses our attention on the precision of the lines. There's a density to the shading, see how it gives weight to the cheek and jawline? It’s almost sculptural in its effect. Then, there are these little ornamental swirls in the background, echoing the curves of the hair and adding a decorative touch to an otherwise serious portrait. Mankes's delicate lines remind me of the work of Albrecht Dürer, although maybe a more folksy, intimate version. It's a reminder that art is a conversation across time, each artist adding their own voice to the ongoing dialogue.