Goatherd with Goats 1917

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing, Goatherd with Goats, with ink, at some point in his career. I love how Kirchner fearlessly throws down marks, nothing precious here, just a kind of raw energy. Look at how he uses these quick, almost scribbled lines to define the forms of the goats and the goatherd. It's like he's trying to capture the essence of the scene, rather than a realistic depiction. The texture is created by the varying pressure of the ink, some lines thick and bold, others thin and wispy, giving the whole thing a sense of movement. Notice the repetition of short, parallel strokes that suggest the ground. These little marks add a rhythmic quality to the composition, a visual pulse that enlivens the entire drawing. You can see echoes of Van Gogh's expressive line work here. Both artists share a commitment to conveying emotion through the physicality of their mark-making, making the act of creation itself visible on the surface. It reminds you that art is always a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and influences across time.