Hermann Ittermann’s Inner Child
Herman Ittermann is a German artist whose pencil art primarily focuses on portraits. In the absence of color, he uses countless detailed pencil strokes to bring his subjects to life. The focus of this sketch lies in the young boy’s eyes, which sparkle with life as he gazes inquisitively at the viewer. With one finger raised mischievously over his lips as they deliver a reproving “shh,” his pose suggests that he intends to embark on a secret adventure or perhaps raise some mayhem.
The magnification of the young boy’s features reveals his proximity to the viewer: he does not reside quietly within the sketch, but rather seeks to draw the viewer into it, closer still. The gesture he makes to silence the viewer is an invitation: the viewer shares in his secret, and the choice of whether to aid or betray him lies in one’s own hands. The hood that the boy wears suggests an attempt to conceal his identity to the rest of the world, but his eyes are revealed to the viewer, showing the child’s offering and his vulnerability.
It speaks to a part of us that remembers when secrets were treasures, when silence could be an adventure, and when the unspoken held infinite possibility. Children instinctively understand the magic of secrets, the thrill of shared silence, and the special bond created when two people hold something precious between them. In playgrounds and bedrooms, whispered confidences and solemn promises to “not tell anyone” form the foundation of early friendships. This sketch entices the viewer to recall his or her inner child and awaken the playful spirit of childhood that lies latent in all of us. It is an invitation to reenter the world of imagination and magic that is often lost in the mundane responsibilities of adulthood. In a world where the day-to-day practicalities of life often seem to reduce the human existence to routines, the child’s mischievous eyes stand as a reminder of the creativity and vibrancy of our early years and a wonderful reminder that this inner child still resides within all of us.
How does this painting make you feel?
Hermann Ittermann’s Inner Child, I think it is very successful to describe the same time the child both external and internal world, how an adult, as a kind of “access to the child’s level,” feels the child involved in the world around us, at the same time, however, the child’s eyes tell an adult that “something big is going on,” such as a child’s imagination in the world in general,