In het klooster before 1931

Etienne Bosch made this print of nuns in a convent, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's all lines, really, a network of thin strokes that come together to create a sense of form and space. It reminds me that artmaking is a process of building, of layering thought and action, one mark at a time. The texture of the print is fascinating. There's a kind of starkness, but also a sensitivity in the way the lines are etched. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the plate, the pressure and release as the image emerges. Look at the way the lines describe the folds of the nuns habits – how they fall and drape. The repetition of vertical lines creates a feeling of enclosure. The way Bosch uses line reminds me of the work of Käthe Kollwitz. Both artists share an interest in social themes and a willingness to embrace ambiguity and multiple interpretations. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time.