Oude visscher 1885 - 1931

This is Frederika Henriëtte Broeksmit's print, "Oude visscher", of an old fisherman, and it's made with a real eye for texture. Look at the way she renders the fisherman's weathered face, all those tiny, etched lines creating the illusion of depth and age. It's like she’s mapping the landscape of a life lived by the sea. The hatching marks that build up the form of the jacket and the chair are really interesting. There's a kind of restless energy to them, they feel like they could almost be moving. The negative space around the figure is just as important, giving the image a sense of quiet contemplation. Broeksmit really understood how to create a mood with just a few simple lines. It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also had a knack for capturing the essence of her subjects with such economy. But of course, Broeksmit brings her own unique vision to the table, doesn't she? Art is an ongoing conversation, and each artist has their own voice.