Hoved af en ung pige set forfra 1907

Frans Schwartz made this portrait of a young girl, likely around 1907, using etching. The marks feel almost like a nervous energy, capturing a fleeting moment or emotion. The etching feels immediate. Look at how Schwartz uses a dense network of lines around the girl's hair and the shadows under her eyes to create depth. The density of these marks almost obscures form, but it gives her a kind of halo, while the quicker, lighter lines on her face are so delicate. The way he's built up the shadows with these tiny, quick strokes creates a tender, almost melancholic mood. It's a quiet piece, isn't it? The girl's downward gaze feels intimate, like a secret shared between her and the artist. There's a similar feel to some of Käthe Kollwitz's prints, that same intensity of line and focus on the human condition. Ultimately, it is up to us to decide whether we find the artwork to be full of joy or sadness.