This intimate drawing of two goldfinches is a preparatory study for the oil painting Goldfinches at Dusk in Museum Belvédère. Using pencil and black chalk, Jan Mankes captures the birds and the surrounding branches in a composition that is still taking shape. The sketch-like lines, visible perspective lines and repeated contours reveal the exploratory nature of the work. The drawing offers insight into the way Mankes constructed and refined his compositions.

The drawing was executed on parchment, a material Mankes used on several occasions. The reverse reveals an interesting aspect of his working method. It is covered with a layer of reddish-brown chalk. Mankes then traced the outlines of the goldfinches and branches with a sharp pencil. The impressions are clearly visible in the parchment and suggest that he transferred the composition onto a second sheet, where he could make further adjustments.

The drawing is both an independent and characteristic study reflecting Mankes’s close attention to nature, and a remarkable document of his artistic process.