Rondom een blauw van licht, zag ik de vormen van het Booze c. 1928

Curator: This etching, realized circa 1928 by Hein von Essen, bears the curious title, "Rondom een blauw van licht, zag ik de vormen van het Booze"—"Around a blue light, I saw the shapes of Evil." Editor: That title certainly fits the mood. The oppressive darkness surrounding that single point of light… it’s claustrophobic and unsettling. Is that a figure hunched over the light? It seems burdened. Curator: Yes, notice how von Essen uses stark contrasts, playing light against shadow to amplify the visual drama. That hunched figure—observe its skeletal form, its face almost buried in its hands. Consider the recurring symbolic motif of the burdened or afflicted figure. Are they cradling the light or desperately trying to extinguish it? Editor: A chilling question. Considering the social and political anxieties brewing in Europe during the late 1920s, could this image reflect a broader cultural fear of impending darkness, the rise of "Evil" that the title invokes? It’s almost as if von Essen is commenting on the fragility of hope in a time of growing uncertainty. Curator: Absolutely. Light is such a potent symbol. But here, its ambiguity is key. The radiant core is almost threatening, encircled by such potent blackness, perhaps indicating that enlightenment or progress comes with its own shadow, or the revelation of unsavory truths. The surrounding gloom could represent ignorance or fear, highlighting the human condition where such negativity obscure better judgements. Editor: It's also striking how the print itself emphasizes the material reality of creating art during that time. The monochrome palette, the dense cross-hatching typical of etching techniques… The deliberate marks highlight the hand of the artist in processing, depicting the evil within their experience, as if struggling through darkness on the plate itself. The medium strengthens the overall impact. Curator: Indeed. Von Essen’s mastery of the etching technique makes "Rondom een blauw van licht, zag ik de vormen van het Booze" a deeply evocative piece. It's a journey into the psychological landscape, rendered with impressive skill. Editor: Looking at this print, one truly feels how anxieties are materialized within a specific culture, translated by the symbolic work of artists.