Man draagt vrouw before 2009

Aat Verhoog created this lithograph, called Man draagt vrouw, by applying layers of ink to a stone or metal plate, then pressing it onto paper. Lithography's strength lies in its capacity to capture textures and subtle gradations. Look closely, and you'll see Verhoog uses this to full effect, with a finely mottled surface throughout the composition. This gives a tactile quality, softening the work's somewhat unsettling imagery. The content is surreal: a man carrying a woman through a doorway, framed by a cascade of roses. The scene appears at once intimate and alienating. Lithography emerged as a relatively democratic medium, allowing for the wider distribution of images. While not as immediate as a photograph, the process still offered a means of mass communication. Verhoog's embrace of this technique underscores the idea that art need not be confined to unique, precious objects. Instead, it can be integrated into everyday life. The print invites us to reconsider the relationship between art, labor, and accessibility.