Leeuwenmonument van Luzern 1895 - 1910

This artwork at the Rijksmuseum is an anonymous rendering of the Lion Monument of Lucerne. It's rendered in monochrome, maybe ink or charcoal on paper. The smudgy strokes conjure a solemn mood. I wonder, what was it like for the artist, whoever they were, to sit with the image of that grand sculpture? Carving the dying lion out of a massive rock face, the original sculpture must have been quite a spectacle! Here, the anonymous artist uses a limited palette to convey a sense of gravity, as if echoing the somber tone of the monument itself. The texture of the paper seems soft, yet the contrast achieved is striking. It's as if they are saying: look, even with simple means, the weight of history can be felt. Think of artists like Käthe Kollwitz, who used printmaking to express deep pathos. This piece connects to that history, a quiet echo in the ongoing conversation among artists across time. It embodies the artist’s reflections on loss, loyalty, and remembrance.