De Notenkraker, 21 december 1907 / Kerstnacht 1907 Possibly 1907 - 1921

Here, in Albert Hahn's 1907 cover illustration for "De Notenkraker", we see delicate linework sketching out a scene of Christmas Eve. The stark contrast of black and white in this print makes you think about the weight of each line, how each mark must be deliberate. Looking at the angel floating above the town, you can see how Hahn creates a sense of volume and texture through the density of lines. See how the clustered marks around the angel's wings almost vibrate with energy. The image has an illustrative, graphic quality, the angel's form simplified and stylized. It is as if Hahn is not trying to replicate reality but is building a world from the ground up, mark by mark. It all reminds me of the drawings of George Grosz, sharing a similar commitment to representing social issues through the lens of caricature and satire. This piece really makes you think about how art can be a conversation and an argument, constantly reshaping and redefining itself through the dialogue between artists across time.