The Absinth Drinker 1908

Albrecht Anker made this watercolor painting, The Absinth Drinker, sometime in the late 19th Century, with an interesting combination of earth tones and muted shades, creating a contemplative mood. The materiality of the watercolor, the way the pigment settles into the paper's fibers, gives a unique texture to the work. You can almost feel the smoothness of the paper contrasting with the granular quality of the paint. I'm drawn to the way Anker captures the man's skin – the delicate washes that suggest age and weariness. Look at the right hand, for example, seemingly floating above the table and gesticulating like he's telling a story. It’s rendered with so much care, that the hand seems to speak a language all its own. Anker reminds me a little of Courbet, though with a gentler touch, maybe a pinch of Daumier thrown in for good measure. Ultimately, this piece embraces a quiet ambiguity, leaving us to ponder the unspoken narratives that unfold within its delicate washes.