Vier illustraties bij: Nannie van Wehl, De buren, 1907 before 1907

These four illustrations were made by an anonymous artist in 1907 to accompany Nannie van Wehl's book, "The Neighbors." Imagine the artist with their pen and ink, conjuring these intimate scenes of domestic life. Look at the hatching and cross-hatching, the way the pen never leaves the surface, building up tone and texture. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the paper, guided by intuition and a keen eye for detail. I’m especially drawn to the interior scenes. The one with the man sitting at the table; he looks so lonely and forlorn, the artist really captured a sense of quiet melancholy. The way they suggest depth and atmosphere with such minimal means—it’s almost like a memory, flickering and elusive. It reminds me of other artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who were also exploring the inner lives of women and children in their work. There's a shared sensibility, a kind of quiet intimacy that transcends time and place. It’s all one big conversation.