Zeelt 1917

Jan Mankes made this print, called 'Zeelt', probably sometime between 1906 and 1917. It's got this incredible sense of stillness, doesn’t it? Look closely at the way he's built up the blacks. It's almost like he's caressing the surface with each tiny stroke, creating this velvety texture. The density of the dark ink really makes the fish stand out. Notice how its eye is so round and bold, and how it seems to be staring right at you. I find myself wondering about what the fish is thinking. The whole scene feels very intimate, like a secret world hidden beneath the water. Mankes reminds me of someone like Agnes Martin, in that he is taking something ordinary and making it glow. The way it's printed, with that soft, slightly ragged edge, almost makes it feel like you could reach out and touch it. It's this beautiful, quiet moment, captured in ink.