Kersttijd 1900 Possibly 1900 - 1923

Hendrik Jan Carel Linse made this lithograph around 1900, and it's a real conversation starter, isn't it? The monochromatic palette gives the image a stark, almost ghostly feel, while the detailed linework reminds us that art-making is always a process of layering, of building something up bit by bit. Look closely at the figure of Death perched atop the cannon. The way Linse renders the skeletal form, with its sharp angles and hollow spaces, speaks volumes about the brutality of war. You can almost feel the weight of his gaze. It makes you think about the physical act of drawing, of pressing the crayon to the stone, and how that act can be used to convey such profound emotion. This piece reminds me of some of Otto Dix's anti-war etchings, especially in its unflinching depiction of suffering. It's like both artists are saying, "Here it is, in all its horror. Now what are we going to do about it?" Art like this doesn't offer easy answers, but it does invite us to ask tough questions.