The Tale of Isolde 1900 - 1905

Benedict Herzog made The Tale of Isolde, using crayon, sometime between 1859 and 1912. It's amazing how an artist can conjure light out of darkness. This piece is mostly shades of grey and black, but it's like a spotlight is shining on the figures, drawing us into their story. Looking closely, you can see the grainy texture from the crayon. It's not about smooth blending, but more about these tiny marks building up to create the overall image. Notice the way the light catches Isolde's face on the right, the stark contrast with the shadow gives it such a powerful, emotional punch. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz's prints – that same intensity and focus on human emotion, rendered through a similar commitment to the power of monochrome. Art’s like this conversation across time, with artists responding to and riffing off each other's ideas, each artwork open to interpretation.