De "leraar" 1923

Erich Wichmann made "De 'leraar'" with graphite on paper. I can imagine Wichmann’s hand moving softly, tentatively, across the page as he renders this figure. The graphite is powdery, almost like smoke, and the image seems to emerge from the depths of the paper. Look at the mouth—a quick, dark stroke that hints at speech or maybe just quiet contemplation. What was he thinking about as he made this? Was he reflecting on the nature of teaching, the weight of knowledge, or the burden of representation? I like to think that he was also in conversation with other artists, echoing their concerns and adding his own unique voice to the mix. Artists—we’re always talking to each other, even across time. Ultimately, this drawing reminds me that art is not just about answers, but about the questions we ask and the spaces we create for new possibilities.