De Notenkraker, 20 april 1907 / Vorsten van deze tijd Possibly 1907

This lithograph, "De Notenkraker", by Albert Hahn from 1907, gets to the point with stark blacks and whites, and some delicately rendered gray areas, achieved through a process of layering marks, cross-hatching, and stippling. It's economical, immediate. I am really drawn to the wallpaper, which is a kind of scribble, a loopy gesture that speaks to the interiority of the scene. It’s not just a backdrop, but a character in itself, a silent witness to the absurdity of the moment. The cartoon style allows for exaggeration, humor, and social commentary, but at the same time, the artist pays close attention to rendering details of the faces and outfits, giving the characters a tangible presence. There's something of Honoré Daumier in the way Hahn satirizes the elite, using caricature to reveal uncomfortable truths. Like Daumier, Hahn shows how art doesn't need to be complicated to be profound.