De duivel in de flesch c. 1902

This comic strip, "De duivel in de flesch", by Pellerin & Cie., seems to me like it was probably made with printmaking techniques, perhaps lithography, with all those delicate lines and flat areas of color. I imagine the artists must have enjoyed carefully carving out the linework and applying the color washes, meticulously building up each frame of the story. What were they thinking as they worked? How much of the narrative did they have planned from the outset? How much did they figure out as they went along? Look how the lines have a life of their own, defining the shapes but also conveying movement and emotion. The color palette is limited, yet each hue seems perfectly chosen to emphasize certain aspects of the narrative and give this comic its distinctive atmosphere. It reminds me of the work of other narrative artists and cartoonists. In each there's a sense of embracing the possibilities that the process brings. I think the artist really captures the essence of painting as an ongoing conversation.