Abstracte compositie 1920

Erich Wichmann made this lithograph, "Abstracte compositie," employing a range of marks, from soft gradations to deep, almost violent scratches. Looking at the surface, you can see how the push and pull of the marks create a sort of folding, crumpling effect. The image feels like it's caught between representation and abstraction, like a close-up of draped fabric that's threatening to dissolve into pure form. There's a real tension here, a sense of something emerging or collapsing. I'm drawn to the lower right corner, where these deep, dark lines converge, suggesting weight and depth. It’s like the whole image is anchored there, a dark spot from which everything else unfurls. This reminds me a little of some of Rodin's ink drawings, where he would use these dark washes to create a sense of form and volume. It's about capturing a feeling, an impression, more than a literal depiction.