In the years 1913-1914 Mankes tries to achieve a sober style combined with a certain monumentality. This lot is an extraordinary example for sheer soberness. The refined colours of the leaves, the sky and the birds are set beside the huge black bird.
Describing in her book on her husband the year 1913 , Mrs Mankes-Zernike quotes "Hij vroeg dit keer meer voor zijn werk, f. 150 voor de kraai, dat mocht wel vind ik..." It is very well possible that the raven mentioned is the picture in the present lot

See colour illustration