Het ontbijt van vader kadet c. 1902

"Het ontbijt van Vader Kadet," or "Father Kadet's Breakfast," is a comic strip of lithographs with watercolor in the Dutch language by Pellerin & Cie, its date currently unknown. With clear, simplified forms, and a limited range of color, it reminds me of someone like Hergé, the creator of Tintin. There’s a real charm to the way the characters are drawn, especially the central figure of "Vader Kadet" - his body language is so expressive in each individual cell. The light watercolor washes add a softness to the print, softening the rigid edges, and softening the impact of the overall scene. Look closer. See how the artist uses the simple blocks of color to convey depth and shadow? What I love about this piece is how it balances clarity with a kind of naive, heartfelt quality. You can almost feel the artist figuring things out as they go, embracing the imperfections and leaving space for the viewer to fill in the gaps. Just like life.