Middagmaal 1903 - 1920

'Middagmaal' was made by Stoomsteendrukkerij Senefelder using a lithographic process, and what strikes me is its commitment to grayscale. The richness of the print comes from subtle gradations, from the near-black of the hearth to the light falling on the woman’s dress. There's a real feeling of depth in the picture, even though the tonal range is quite compressed, the smoke rising between the figures seems to act as the fulcrum point. You can almost feel the warmth radiating from it. It’s interesting how the simplicity of the scene speaks to so much, and how the process of lithography has been used to convey such depth of feeling. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, in the way it uses modest materials to communicate something deeply human. Art isn't about answers; it's more about asking questions and inviting us to look closer.