Slepende man 1904 - 1936

This small print of a stooping man was made by Jos Croïn, sometime between the late 19th and mid-20th century. Look at the thin, scratchy lines! I wonder what it was like to pull the matrix through the press. Did he wince when he saw the first print? You can really feel the weight on this poor guy's back. He's like some character out of a Breughel painting. Croïn's use of hatching creates a sense of depth, but also of the oppressive atmosphere and the relentless burden this figure carries. He is holding a walking stick for support, and is hunched over. You can almost feel his exhaustion. It makes me wonder what he was thinking about as he trudged along. Was he thinking about the meaning of life? Or just when he could get some rest? Either way, this little print is like a little poem about perseverance.