De Notenkraker, 20 juli 1907 / De wegsmeltende vrijzinnig-demokratie Possibly 1907

This is a print made by Albert Hahn in 1907. The mark making here feels really immediate, it has this off the cuff quality, you know, like a visual stream of consciousness, and it's all about communicating an idea urgently. Looking closely, it's all in shades of grey, created with hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and tone. See how the lines coalesce to create darker areas, and then dissipate to show highlights? It’s clever. I love how the artist uses these simple marks to convey a sense of something melting, with the 'snow' dripping down into little puddles at the base. It gives the whole image this feeling of transformation, decay, the ebb and flow of time. For me, this piece speaks to the ever-changing nature of art and ideas. There are echoes of Daumier in the focus on political themes and expressive line work. It's a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, borrowing, responding, and evolving.