Gedenkplaat 1914-15: Hulde aan de regeering voor de handhaving onzer neutraliteit Possibly 1915 - 1918

This commemorative plate, made in the Netherlands during World War I, by Gerrit Hendrik Franck, is a monochrome lithograph, a print pulled from a stone. Look at how the artist has used different weights of line to create depth and texture, especially in the lion’s mane and the drapery. It is not just about representation. See how the graphic quality of the image contributes to its emotional impact. The texture is really built up through the density of marks, it's like controlled scribbling, but with a purpose. Notice the lion, standing proudly on a pedestal, with a somewhat theatrical figure of a woman with a shield gesturing protectively. On the other side, a knight on horseback, almost like a mirror image. It’s as if Franck is setting up a dialogue, a push and pull between the figures. It reminds me of other artists who used printmaking for political commentary, like Käthe Kollwitz, though her work is often more overtly critical. Like Kollwitz, Franck uses the graphic medium to create a powerful statement, but one that leaves space for interpretation. It’s this ambiguity that makes the work so compelling.