Akrobater Skapad 1914

Eugène Jansson made this lithograph called Akrobater Skapad, of two acrobats, somewhere around the turn of the 20th century. I love how he lays down the marks, all these tiny vertical lines, almost scribbled, that build up the forms. It’s like the image is emerging from a haze, coming into being through the sheer act of drawing. The texture is everything here. Look at the way he suggests the weight and strain of the figures, just by layering these marks, making some areas darker and more dense. The supporting figure has all this energy. You can sense the muscles working, the effort of holding the other acrobat aloft. Then the figure on top is so still and relaxed, a total contrast. Jansson’s mark making reminds me a little of Marsden Hartley, who also uses this kind of repetitive, almost obsessive line work to create a sense of depth and volume. But where Hartley's colors are so vibrant, Jansson keeps things muted and tonal. For me, it gives the piece a kind of timeless, dreamlike quality.