Menukaart van de lunch ter ere van het huwelijk tussen H. de Kruijff en Ch. N. Begram van Eeten, met silhouetportret van het paar 1916

This menu card, probably printed, commemorates a wedding lunch in 1916. The silhouettes, so crisp and precise, give off a feeling of order and intention. The artist—whose name we don't know—started with a clear idea and a steady hand, a way of working that mirrors the formality of a wedding. Look at the stark black of the silhouettes against the creamy paper. It’s all about contrast, a visual representation of two becoming one. The rose they’re exchanging is so delicately rendered, a sharp contrast to the surrounding forms. It suggests a tenderness that speaks volumes. Who was this artist? Was this a one-off, a personal gift to the couple? I can’t help but imagine that it might be someone like Kara Walker, another artist working with silhouette, but using the form to explore much darker themes, a reminder that even in the most beautiful gestures, shadows lurk. Ultimately, it’s a testament to how art can capture a moment, a feeling, and a whole world of possibility.