Jule- og nytårskort 1916

This is "Jule- og nytårskort", a Christmas and New Year card, made by Axel Hou around 1916. It’s a small print, probably an etching, full of intricate lines forming an angel figure. The whole thing shimmers because of the density of those tiny etched lines; it's like a swarm of marks, vibrating. Look at how Hou uses the hatching to create a sense of light radiating from behind the angel, giving it a halo effect. I’m really drawn to the way the angel's robe falls. See how the lines suggest the folds and drapes? It’s economical but so effective. It reminds me a bit of the graphic work of someone like Käthe Kollwitz, with its starkness and emotional intensity achieved through simple means. This piece feels like a private meditation, a personal expression captured in a humble format. It reminds us that art doesn't always need to shout; sometimes, the quietest voices resonate the most.