Man spreekt een ober aan before 1948

Hans Borrebach made this cartoon in ink and watercolour, and what’s immediately striking is how deftly he manages to be both suggestive and definitive at the same time. I can imagine him working quickly, enjoying the slickness of the ink, the precision of the line as it zips around and confidently encloses these two men. Look at the waiter holding a dangerously high pile of plates. What do you think is on them? It seems the other man isn’t happy. You can tell by the severe tilt of his chin, the arch of his brow, and the way he pinches the air. Is he complaining about the food? Or just being a difficult customer? This piece is interesting in relation to other socially critical cartoonists like Grosz or Heartfield. But unlike them, Borrebach’s approach feels more observational and understated. He manages to create a little world on paper.