Animals Two and Two 1928

Ilonka Karasz made "Animals Two and Two" using pencil on paper, though we don't know exactly when. The approach to mark-making feels very process-oriented, like the kind of drawing you do when you are trying to figure something out. Looking closely, you can see the texture of the paper through the pencil strokes. The shading is built up in layers, giving a real sense of depth and volume. There is one area, where the leading pair of animals are walking, that is particularly interesting: you can see how the artist has used very fine lines to create the impression of light and shadow, really shaping the forms. Karasz was a contemporary of the modernists, yet there is something about this piece that feels almost medieval, like a tapestry or woodcut. It reminds me a little of some of Agnes Martin's drawings, in the way it uses simple forms and repeated patterns to create a sense of calm and order. It really shows how art is an ongoing conversation across time.