Russische beer 1917 - 1925

Patricq Kroon made this drawing, "Russische beer," with ink and opaque watercolor on paper. Look at how the artist uses simple hatching and cross-hatching to build up the bear's form, it's all about the layering of marks. The materiality here is spare but effective. The opaque watercolor gives the bear a flat, graphic quality, while the ink provides sharp contrasts. Notice how the artist uses the white of the paper to suggest volume and light, especially in the bear's fur. The limited palette—mostly black, white, and a touch of blue—adds to the drawing's stark, almost urgent feel. Take a look at the way the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, giving the lines a soft, fuzzy edge. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz's prints, with their similar emphasis on expressive line and social commentary. Ultimately, the drawing leaves us with a sense of unsettled tension and political intrigue.