Willem Houwdegen 1894 - 1959

This comic strip, titled ‘Willem Houwdegen’, was made by Monogrammist G.J. using a printing process with added color. Here, the paper support, and the printing and coloring processes, deeply influence the artwork's appearance. The artist, Monogrammist G.J. has created a series of twelve framed panels to tell a story, perhaps for a children's book. The printed lines define the images, and the washes of added color bring the characters and settings to life. The artist probably engaged with traditions of printmaking and illustration to produce it, and this labor-intensive process is tied to wider social issues of accessibility, politics, and consumption. Considering the processes and materials employed in its creation helps us fully appreciate the artwork’s intended meaning and purpose, challenging traditional distinctions between illustration and fine art.