Oorlogsfilosoof before 1918

This is Willy Sluiter’s ‘War Philosopher’ a print made in 1917, here at the Rijksmuseum. What I love about this, is the artist really embraced the lithographic crayon, building up these dense, smudgy tones. It’s a total celebration of process. Look at the philosopher’s face! Sluiter really piles on the marks here, using the crayon to add layers of tone and texture. The figure’s expression, with his furrowed brow and bulging eyes, it really conveys the weight of the world, or at least, a hefty bar bill. Then there’s the beer, all foamy and brown in the glass, grounding him in this moment. Sluiter reminds me a bit of Daumier, in the way that he uses caricature to make a point about society. Like all good art, it leaves you with questions, not answers.