Het dompelen van glazen in een asfaltbad 1900 - 1930

Herman Heijenbrock made this drawing, 'Het dompelen van glazen in een asfaltbad', with pastels on paper. The artist’s touch is delicate and hazy, creating a tranquil scene, but one tinged with melancholy. The muted palette is almost monochromatic, which makes the occasional touches of blue, pink, and amber stand out all the more. Look at the figure on the left, the way her hand gently rests on the shoulder of her coworker. It’s a lovely gesture of solidarity. And the repeating forms of the glasses, lined up in neat rows, become almost hypnotic. There's a strange, dreamlike beauty here. Heijenbrock's work often focused on industrial subjects, so this piece connects to his broader interest in depicting labor and industry. I'm reminded of Degas and his paintings of dancers, but Heijenbrock brings a different sensibility. In his work, a factory is not just a site of labor, but also a place of human connection.