Landscape in spring 1910

Hermann Dumler made this Landscape in Spring with brush and brown ink on paper. It’s all about the push and pull of the ink, how it spreads and bleeds, the artist using the physical properties of the medium to create these mountains and valleys. I love how Dumler’s touch is so present in the work, it’s all about the gesture and the movement of his hand. I’m especially drawn to the way he renders the lower part of the landscape. It looks as though the ink was applied in a wash-like manner, almost like watercolor, creating these soft, hazy effects, especially those horizontal strokes. You can see the layering of tones. This gives the artwork a real sense of depth. There's a similar quality to some of the drawings of Emil Nolde, especially how he evokes space and light through the use of tone and texture. Ultimately, this piece, like all art, invites us to see the world through Dumler's eyes, to experience the landscape as he did.