De Notenkraker, 16 november 1907 / Oost-Indisch blind Possibly 1907 - 1916

This is a satirical lithograph, made for the Dutch magazine ‘De Notenkraker’ in 1907, by Albert Hahn. The drawing feels immediate, like a spontaneous gesture, a reaction maybe? The grayscale palette lends it a stark, documentary feel. I’m drawn to the contrast between the figure at the top and the pile he’s standing on. The man’s crisp suit and confident gesture are unsettling when juxtaposed with the chaotic tangle of bodies beneath him. Look at the individual lines describing the forms; some are thick and dark, others barely there, creating a sense of depth and texture. It’s like Hahn is saying, "Here's the surface, now look beneath." This piece reminds me a bit of some of Goya’s Disasters of War series, in its unflinching portrayal of violence and the banality of evil. Both artists use a relatively simple medium to make powerful statements about the human condition. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be pretty; sometimes, it needs to be a mirror reflecting the uncomfortable truths we'd rather ignore.