Meisje op stoel 1892 - 1928

Curator: Johannes Löhr's "Meisje op stoel", likely created sometime between 1892 and 1928, presents a girl seated in a chair, rendered through etching. The work is printed on paper. Editor: There’s a melancholy in this image; a kind of introspective stillness. It reminds me of late 19th century portraits capturing fleeting moments. Curator: The etching technique itself is significant here. Think about the labor involved, the careful manipulation of the metal plate with acid, creating those fine, delicate lines that define form and shadow. How Löhr employed a technique often associated with mass reproduction in service of capturing an intimate moment is very interesting to me. Editor: And it's not just any chair she’s sitting on, it’s a common one. It brings her down to earth, literally and figuratively. Yet her head covering suggests domesticity. Curator: Yes, the chair grounds the figure, situates her within a tangible domestic setting. I agree; The quotidian is definitely evoked by the use of commonplace chair as part of the etching’s materials in terms of setting as well as execution. Editor: Perhaps it's the pose with her hands clasped, but I read this girl as someone constrained by expectation, seated and waiting for something to happen. It triggers a sense of quiet unease and maybe reflects constraints placed upon women. Curator: The use of etching creates tonal variation by using various concentrations of acid and the application of it, allowing Lohr to manipulate a single color into capturing subtle gradations of form and light upon the sitter and surrounding space, producing atmosphere. This technique connects Lohr to other etchers grappling with representing the nuances of modern life. Editor: Ultimately, seeing her rendered so simply, without idealization, allows for a more profound sense of connection to the human subject, it really strikes me. Curator: It is compelling how he uses industrial methods and means of reproduction, through etching to create this quiet piece of artwork. Editor: Seeing beyond her surface details into implied experiences of everyday and interiority gives me an avenue of approach into accessing this beautiful girl as the core symbol for a lived life.