Geschiedenis van een koopman in Kramerijen c. 1902

This colorful print from Pellerin & Cie. tells the story of a shopkeeper, a comic book of sorts using lithography. The artist is relating a story through sequential imagery, but it has the formal qualities of painting, with blocks of color describing form and space. I imagine the artist carefully layering colours to build the characters, clothing, and environments. The figures are outlined with a bold, simple line, filled in with watercolor washes, each frame like a miniature stage set. Look at the way the artist uses color! The reds pop against the muted blues and greens, creating a dynamic rhythm across the entire sheet. What must it have been like to set up the story, organize the composition? Even though this is a commercial work, the choices the artist has made are what make it so visually appealing. It's like they are in conversation with other artists and image-makers, reaching back through time and into our own present moment.