In the zoological garden 1914

Here's August Macke's ink drawing, "In the Zoological Garden." It's all about these quick, confident lines that create a sense of a fleeting moment. You can almost feel him there, rapidly sketching what's in front of him. I imagine Macke, standing there in the zoo, quickly trying to capture the scene. He’s got the tiger on one side, a fashionable couple in the middle, and the leafy trees above, all rendered in a shorthand of marks. Look how the lines vary in thickness and direction, giving the image so much life and energy. The shading suggests depth, and the negative space lets the eye rest. It makes you think about how much information the mind needs to build an image. This piece speaks to the history of drawing and painting, reminding us that the act of seeing is always a dance between perception and mark-making.