Lezende vrouw before 1906

This is a black and white print, of modest size, by Andries Hermanus van Dijk. The grayscale image presents the artist's thoughtful, intimate approach to the printing process. I’m drawn to the deep blacks van Dijk achieves, particularly in the shadows behind the reading woman. It creates a kind of quiet drama. Look at the way the light from the lamp illuminates the table and the book, pulling us into her private world. You can almost feel the texture of the paper, see the density of the ink. The contrast between the stark white of the tablecloth and the soft glow around the woman’s face is so evocative. It reminds me a little of Vilhelm Hammershøi, a Danish painter who also explored these quiet, interior spaces with such a muted palette. Like Hammershøi, van Dijk seems to be interested in capturing a mood, a moment of reflection, rather than a literal representation. It’s a subtle, beautiful piece, a testament to the power of restraint and the magic that can happen when an artist embraces the process.