Zeichnung zur Fibel_ Papagei c. 1905

Hans Thoma made this drawing of a parrot, probably with ink on paper. I really like how the parrot seems to be assembled out of lines. Some are thick and dark, some are thin and light, but all are working together to build up the form of this bird. The way Thoma uses hatching on the branch is particularly interesting. See how the density of the lines creates the illusion of depth and texture. It’s a great example of how simple marks can be used to create a complex effect. The way the lines vary feels playful. They don’t try to replicate exactly what a parrot looks like, but rather, capture something about its essence. To me, it looks like a drawing in progress, like Thoma is finding the parrot as he goes. You can see a similar approach in some of Picasso’s early sketches, where he’s clearly working out the structure of his subjects in real time.