Prometheus in chains 1905

Frantisek Kupka rendered 'Prometheus in Chains' with ink and watercolour, giving us this light and airy scene. I love the way the washes pool and bleed, creating depth with so few marks. Look closely at the eagle tearing at Prometheus. The dark, feathered strokes seem to dig into the paper. This reminds me that making art is always a process of give and take, push and pull. You are literally working against the tooth of the paper. I'm reminded of Odilon Redon's dreamscapes, but Kupka’s line work is bolder, more like a sketch than a finished painting. It feels like the space is still being formed, as though the layers of watercolour haven’t yet settled into a final image. This embrace of process over product is where the magic happens.