Boys 1900 - 1925

Magnus Enckell made this watercolor sketch, titled 'Boys', with translucent washes that let the paper breathe through the image. It’s the kind of piece where you can really see the process, where the making of the image is as important as the image itself. The figures are loosely defined, almost like ghosts, with the watery paint creating soft, undefined edges. Notice how the colors blend and bleed into each other, like the violet shadows under the figures feet, giving them a dreamy, ethereal quality. The strokes are confident, but not overworked, and that single line connecting the figures hands is particularly telling. It speaks to Enckell's interest in capturing fleeting moments of connection and intimacy. Looking at this, I’m reminded of some of Marsden Hartley’s figure studies, both artists exploring similar themes of male bonding and the expressive potential of watercolor. It’s a beautiful example of how art can be a conversation, echoing and riffing on ideas across time.