Nachtwerk 1905

Albert Hahn made this work, Nachtwerk, as a print sometime between 1890 and 1918. It’s moody, right? The yellow light of the open door contrasts with the dark brickwork and the night sky. It makes me think of that moment when you’re up late, maybe working, maybe worrying, and everyone else is asleep. Hahn’s clearly playing with light here, how it shapes the scene and pulls us in. I wonder what was going through his head as he etched those tiny lines. Was he thinking about the people inside? The person outside? Or maybe he was just caught up in the dance of dark and light. It reminds me of other printmakers like Félix Vallotton, who also used black and white to create a charged atmosphere. Ultimately, making pictures is about having a dialogue—with yourself, with the materials, and with the world.