Have you ever run across an artist that simply makes you gasp, then sigh, then wish you could repaint everything you've ever done using the inspiration you absorbed from gazing at his/her work? Well, this morning, rather randomly, I glimpsed a painting on Pinterest by the Dutch painter, Jan Mankes (1889-1920). He lived only 31 years before dying of tuberculosis, but he left behind a significant body of work, including 250 paintings and 100+ drawings.This man could paint anything, landscapes, portraits, still life, animals. All done with such subtlety and delicate beauty. Mankes once said, "I paint or rather wish to paint paintings, silent but singing, singing indeed by their silence." Well, they certainly sing for me. Here are some samples of his work. This website has his entire portfolio.
