Bezoek aan de leprozerie Pelantoengan 1931 - 1935

This photogravure print shows a visit to the Pelantoengan leper colony by Otto Hisgen. I can imagine him working with the acid, the ground, and the pressing. It is a deeply thoughtful image. The people walking towards us wear bright white clothing. I wonder what they might have been thinking at the time? And I imagine what it must have been like to stand on the ground there, looking at them, noticing the linear construction of the building behind them. There is an interesting conversation between the horizontal and vertical lines in the background. The artist plays with these structural elements in relation to the figures in the foreground, thus bringing the subjects of the print into relationship with their surroundings. I think all art is involved in this kind of visual conversation, echoing forms and shapes across time, inspiring creativity. It’s about finding meaning in what you see.