Bandontwerp voor: N.S. Ljeskow, De onsterfelijke, 1965 before 1965

Karel Thole made this cover design for N.S. Ljeskow's "The Immortal" in 1965, using ink on paper. The marks are immediate and gestural, and the overall feel is one of spontaneous expression. Look at how Thole uses the ink: sometimes it’s a dense, solid black, and sometimes it’s broken and scratchy. See how the hatching defines the form of the figure’s cloak and creates the shadows that gives him volume. The figure seems to emerge from the page, with loose scribbles at the bottom implying his feet and anchoring him in space. There’s a real sense of energy in the way Thole applies the ink, with quick, decisive strokes that capture the essence of the character. It reminds me a bit of Picasso’s line drawings, where a few simple lines can convey so much information and emotion. With that quickness, what is being captured is a sense of feeling, rather than fact. It reminds me that art is always evolving, and that artists build upon the ideas and techniques of those who came before them.