Portret van H.W. Mouton met boek 1877 - 1950

Barbara Elisabeth van Houten etched "Portret van H.W. Mouton met boek," using a network of dark lines to conjure form from a blank surface. It’s all process here – raw, immediate, and exposed. I love the way van Houten coaxes light and shadow through simple hatching and cross-hatching. See how the concentration of lines suggests the weight of the jacket on the figure's frame, or the shape of the chair that he sits in? These aren't smooth, blended tones, but distinct marks, each with its own character. Look at the sitter's hands holding the book, or the expression on their face. This reminds me of Whistler's etchings, or maybe some of Käthe Kollwitz's early graphic work. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation, always building on what came before, while pushing towards something new. There’s a beautiful, unresolved tension in the image that welcomes multiple interpretations.