Jonge baars 1899 - 1920

Jan Mankes made this drawing, 'Jonge baars' – or 'Young Perch' – with graphite on paper. Look at how he's built up the image with delicate lines, almost like he's feeling his way around the subject. I can imagine Mankes watching this little fish, trying to capture its essence with the simplest of means. There's a tenderness in the way he renders the scales and fins, a real sense of care. The composition is so simple, just the fish, some weeds, and a few rocks, yet it feels complete, like a whole world contained within this small frame. You know, it reminds me a bit of some early modernist drawings, that same interest in capturing the quiet moments of everyday life. It also makes me think of other artists interested in nature, like Ernst Haeckel, but with a gentle touch all his own. It is a beautiful exploration of form and feeling.