The black boat on a white river 2020

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this ink painting, 'The black boat on a white river,' with a real sense of immediacy. You can almost feel him loading up the brush and making those bold, confident strokes. There's a real physicality to the ink; in some areas, it's dense and opaque, building up this heavy form of the boat. Then, elsewhere, it thins out, becoming almost transparent, like the faintest echo of a line. Look at the way he suggests the reflections on the water with just a few, swift gestures, it’s so economical! The texture of the paper also plays a big role, soaking up the ink and creating these subtle variations in tone. For me, this work has an affinity with the work of Franz Kline. Both artists use the stark contrast of black and white to create dynamic, almost calligraphic compositions. Ultimately, it reminds us that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and influences.