Abstracte compositie 1920 - 1921

Erich Wichmann made this abstract composition with charcoal in 1920. Just look at those darks! It’s like he’s feeling his way through the shadows, using tone on tone, and I find myself doing the same as I try to find the forms that aren’t really there. The charcoal is so dense, almost velvety, but in other areas, you can see the grain of the paper coming through. There’s a real sense of touch, of the artist’s hand moving across the surface. See how the marks are layered, some soft and blurred, others more defined, almost like scratches? It’s a good example of how something simple can be evocative. Wichmann reminds me a little of Odilon Redon, another artist who explored the possibilities of charcoal and lithography. But where Redon’s work often has a dreamlike quality, Wichmann’s feels more grounded, more physical. Art’s an ongoing conversation that stretches over time and across place, don’t you think?