Mannenkoor 1899 - 1952

Johan van Hell made this lithograph of a male choir, sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. What strikes me right away is the way he’s piled these men on top of each other, like a precarious tower of tuxedos and bow ties. There’s a beautiful quality to the surface here. It's so precise and deliberate, I imagine him really considering each mark, each line, almost caressing the paper. The limited palette of blacks and whites allows for a focus on form and texture. Look at the confident, sweeping lines of the conductor's arm, raised in mid-gesture. It’s echoed by the upward tilt of so many of the faces below, all caught in the act of singing. Even though the details are rendered with careful realism, the overall effect is somewhat surreal. I’m reminded of George Grosz, who also had a knack for capturing the absurdities of modern life with a wry and critical eye. Both artists remind us that art doesn't have to provide answers, it can also be a space for asking questions.