Nachtwerk 1905

Albert Hahn made this print, "Nachtwerk," using a dark palette that gives the piece an unsettling and mysterious vibe. It's as if he's inviting us into a world seen through a nocturnal lens, where shadows dance and stories unfold in the dim light. There's a kind of directness in the way Hahn uses color and light here, the grainy texture adding a tactile quality to the night scene. Look how he uses the grey/blue hues to depict the brickwork, each tiny line contributing to the overall mood. It makes you wonder about the man hammering on the window, what's he up to? And who's behind the door, bathed in light? It feels like a scene from a play, but one where the ending is still unwritten. This reminds me a little bit of Paula Modersohn-Becker and her prints, as they both find something beautiful and raw in the everyday. Art's about looking, and this piece really asks you to look closely.