Mother and Children c. 20th century

Thomas Schofield Handforth made this lithograph, titled 'Mother and Children', at some point in his career, using a kind of controlled scribble to define the figures. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the stone, building up tone and form with these tiny, energetic marks. It's interesting to see how Handforth uses line weight to create depth and focus. The lines around the mother's face and hands are darker and more defined, drawing our attention to her expression and gesture, whereas the children's bodies dissolve into a flurry of lighter strokes. Look at the way the fabric drapes around her legs, each fold described with a delicate, looping line. There's a real sense of rhythm and movement in these marks, like a dance on the paper. This piece reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, with her raw, emotive depictions of motherhood and the human condition. Like Kollwitz, Handforth isn't afraid to embrace imperfection, allowing the texture of the lithographic stone to show through. It's in these subtle details that we find the real poetry of the work.