De Notenkraker, 1 juni 1907 / De redding Possibly 1907

This is Albert Hahn's lithographic print called 'The Rescue,' which appeared in 'De Notenkraker' in June 1907. It's all about the push-and-pull of politics, rendered in tight hatching and simple forms. You can almost feel the stone on the page. The texture does so much work here. Look at how Hahn uses these tiny marks to create an ocean of difference, a sea of change. On the right, a monolithic ship of “Reaction” dwarfs a tiny figure stranded on a raft, who in turn waves a black flag. Another character leans from the ship, offering a rope. What a gesture! Is this rescue, or another form of entrapment? The beauty of a piece like this is in its capacity to hold multiple, conflicting meanings at once. It reminds me of Art Young, another political cartoonist, both of whom understand the power of the image to provoke, question, and, maybe, inspire change.