Svipdag speaks with Thokk 1911

John Bauer made this drawing of Svipdag speaking with Thokk, and you know, it’s all about the hatching. Look at that incredible, almost obsessive, mark-making! The dense lines create depth, form, and texture—like a million tiny decisions building a world. The hatching feels both controlled and chaotic, mirroring the balance between order and mystery in the scene. The horse shimmers with light, while the figures emerge from the inky dark, it's all so delicate. And that Thokk—perched there, so still, like a craggy rock made of lines. It reminds me a bit of Odilon Redon, that same dreamy quality, but with this intense focus on detail. It is like Bauer is showing us how to build a world, one tiny line at a time.