Verzoening Frankrijk en Duitsland 1918 - 1930

Patricq Kroon made this cartoon, maybe in the early 20th century, with ink and watercolour. You can see how the quick, expressive lines and splashes of colour capture this scene between a German soldier and a French woman. It's raw, full of energy. I wonder what was going through Kroon's head while he made it? What he wanted to say about reconciliation through these characters? The colours are vivid, and the way they are applied, so loose and free. There's the blue of the woman's dress and the soldier's uniform that stand out against the monochrome background. The faces of the crowd sketched in the back are full of judgement. It makes you feel something, doesn’t it? How the artist uses these simple materials to create such an evocative image. It reminds me of the work of other cartoonists who use satire and dark humour to make a point. It's all connected, this history of artists responding to the world, each adding their own layer to the conversation.