Vogelschedel Possibly 1912 - 1915

Jan Mankes made this etching of a bird skull, sometime between 1900 and 1920. You know, when you look at Mankes work as a whole, you could be forgiven for thinking he was a minimalist before the term even existed. This isn't to say that he didn't put real effort into the making, far from it. Look closely at how the lines create a sense of depth, even though it's mostly about suggestion. There is a tonal richness in those dark, almost smudged areas that really anchor the image. It's fascinating to see how much information Mankes packs into such a small image, he reminds me of Giorgio Morandi in this regard, because both artists have this amazing ability to make something out of seemingly nothing. It really proves that the making of art is an ongoing conversation, as ideas evolve and take new forms across time.