Overleg van boeren 1880 - 1932

Emil Orlik made this etching, "Overleg van boeren," which translates to "Consultation of Farmers," sometime in the early 20th century. The sepia tones give it a kind of timelessness, like looking at an old photograph or a faded memory. The etched lines are so delicate, creating these figures and buildings with a sort of ghostly precision. There's a looseness, too, like he's sketching the essence of the scene rather than trying to capture every detail. The way the lines fade in and out, especially in the background, gives the whole scene this airy, dreamlike quality. And then, down in the left corner, there's this little dog, or maybe a pig, snuffling around in the dirt, totally oblivious to whatever important discussion is happening among the farmers. This work puts me in mind of Kathe Kollwitz, though Orlik’s approach is lighter, his tone less overtly political. Both were interested in the lives of ordinary people and the quiet dignity of everyday life.