Drie mannen nemen afscheid voor het station c. 1836 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print, "Three Men Saying Goodbye Before the Station," with etching. The lithographic ink lends a sepia tone, giving it a timeless quality. The composition centres on three figures locked in a farewell handshake before a building, likely a station. The artist employs line and form, drawing attention to the figures' body language. The symmetry of the neoclassical architecture in the background provides a stark contrast to the figures and their imminent departure, which is reinforced by the porter struggling to carry heavy baggage. The artwork challenges the traditional view of travel as just functional. The print is a cultural artifact that captures the emotional essence of departures while prompting us to reflect on the symbolic nature of stations as spaces of transit.