De Notenkraker, 5 mei 1907 / De gebroken ladder Possibly 1907

This is Albert Hahn’s ‘The Nutcracker’ from May 5th, 1907, a lithograph on paper. Look at the texture of the paper, how it's aged to a warm, parchment-like tone. This piece feels so immediate and alive, even though it’s over a century old! I’m really drawn to the economy of line. The marks feel really considered, pared back, there's an efficiency to the image making. Take the tree on the left, notice how the artist uses a single, elegant curve to suggest the roundness and fullness of the foliage. It has a confidence about it, and makes me think about the relationship between drawing and humor. It brings to mind the work of Honoré Daumier, another artist who used lithography to create biting social commentary with a similar verve and lightness of touch. Ultimately, it's the image’s energy and sense of spontaneity that make it so compelling. Hahn's work reminds us that art is a process, a conversation, and a way of seeing the world anew.