Portret van een vrouw met ontbloot bovenlijf 1917

Huib Luns made this portrait of a woman with bare torso as a print, and I just want to dive into this dreamy sienna world that Luns has created. The single color says so much, the way it describes the fall of light across the woman’s form and hair. Looking closely, there’s a beautiful balance here, the way the grainy texture of the print contrasts with the smooth skin of her neck, and how Luns uses the line to give definition but it also dissolves into the background, letting the figure emerge. I love the almost woven or fabric like texture in the background, like it’s a part of the print itself. It reminds me of the soft focus and tonal harmony you get with Whistler. This is a quiet piece, but it holds your gaze, it’s proof that art is a conversation, and that every artwork can open our eyes to new ways of seeing.