Notenkraker met een kaars en bloederig zwaard 1898

Willem Wenckebach's 1898 watercolor, "Notenkraker met een kaars en bloederig zwaard", depicts a menacing nutcracker, holding a bloody sword in his right hand and a lit candle in his left. The nutcracker is presented in a dark, almost ominous setting, with a splash of blood dripping down his leg. This illustration exemplifies Wenckebach's dark and surrealist style, offering a chilling and unexpected interpretation of a familiar children's toy. Located in the Rijksmuseum, the artwork challenges viewers to contemplate the unsettling nature of everyday objects when viewed through a disturbing lens.