Jonge baars 1899 - 1920

Jan Mankes made this drawing of a young perch with graphite on paper. Look at the way Mankes has layered thin strokes, almost like he’s knitting the image together. It's artmaking as a slow, thoughtful dance. The texture here is all in the subtle variations of the graphite. See how he captures the light shimmering off the water with just a few horizontal lines. Then there's the fish itself – the scales are suggested, not defined, giving it a sense of movement, like it could swim right off the page. Notice that little plant snaking up behind the fish? It's like a tiny, playful gesture in an otherwise quiet scene. Mankes' delicate touch reminds me of Agnes Martin's quiet grids, both artists finding so much in a limited palette. Ultimately, this drawing feels like a whisper, a gentle reminder of the beauty in the everyday.