Meisje op ziekenbezoek 1909 - 1948

Freddie Langeler made this illustration, a drawing really, with ink on paper. The fine, close hatching and intricate patterns of this scene make it a feast for the eyes. It’s like Langeler wanted to fill every single space with some kind of texture or detail. I can imagine her bent over the paper, carefully plotting out each tiny line, lost in the rhythm of mark-making. She was probably thinking a lot about Virginia Woolf, or the Bloomsbury group, I imagine. I wonder, what’s the story here? Is the girl in the bed sick, or just resting? Does the visitor have good news? I wish I could step into this world Langeler has created and hang out there for a while, just to soak it all in. I see this piece as part of an ongoing exchange of ideas. The way she approaches the composition reminds me of Hannah Höch. It's like Langeler is in conversation with all these other artists across time, and that’s super inspiring to me.