Bewoners en directeur voor de ruïne van een verbrande kostschool 1823 - 1869

Charles Billoin created this print, ‘Inhabitants and director in front of the ruin of a burnt-down boarding school', using etching. The somber scene, dominated by shades of grey, centres on a group of figures framed by the skeletal remains of a building. The composition is structured around the contrast between the standing figures and the seated or kneeling ones, creating a visual hierarchy that draws attention to the director, who stands tall at the center. The linear quality of the etching emphasizes the starkness of the ruins, with lines delineating the broken bricks. This choice of medium enhances the print's emotional impact, conveying a sense of loss and desolation. Billoin uses the etching technique not just to depict a scene, but to evoke a deeper sense of historical and social commentary. Notice how Billoin employs line and form to convey the disruption caused by the fire. The deliberate arrangement of the figures within the composition invites us to reflect on the themes of disaster, resilience, and the human condition.