Stervende 1922

Henri Braakensiek made this lithograph, Stervende, sometime in his life using lithographic ink. The mark-making here is beautiful, almost like a dance between darkness and light; the process feels open, vulnerable, but somehow resolute. Look how Braakensiek coaxes the most profound emotion from a single, subtle shift in tone. The velvety blacks pull us into the depths of sorrow, while the pale greys hint at the faint possibility of peace. Notice the texture – it's almost tangible, like you could reach out and feel the weight of the world etched into the surface. The repeated marks build into a tonal representation of his feelings around the subject. You might think of Kollwitz’s printmaking while looking at this. But there's something uniquely fragile about Braakensiek’s touch. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be loud or bombastic; sometimes, the quietest gestures speak the loudest.