Susanne 1909

Oluf Hartmann created this small etching, Susanne, sometime around the turn of the century. The print shows a composition of stark contrasts, a dark ground against which three figures struggle to carry a fourth. The forms are roughly hewn, almost grotesque, conveying a sense of primal exertion. Hartmann’s use of etching allows for a play of light and shadow that accentuates the straining muscles and contorted faces. The scene evokes earlier allegorical depictions of the senses or the ages of man, but here the artist seems more interested in destabilizing these classical forms. The lack of clear narrative invites us to question the relationships between the figures. The print’s disturbing qualities come from its formal tensions – the compressed space, the ambiguous identities, and the raw execution. It seems to be reflecting the disquiet and uncertainty of a rapidly changing world, where old certainties are being challenged, and new forms of expression are urgently sought.