Maija is Ill 1909

Pekka Halonen made this etching, Maija is Ill, sometime around 1909, with delicate, almost ghostly lines. It's like a whisper of an image, barely there, which makes it all the more poignant. The texture is incredible; you can almost feel the soft give of the bedclothes and the weight of Maija's arm. Look at the way Halonen uses those tiny, intricate lines to suggest shadow and form. They build up in layers, creating depth where you least expect it. The whole piece feels so fragile, like a memory fading at the edges. There's a vulnerability here that reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, especially in her later etchings. Both artists have this way of capturing raw emotion with such minimal means. It’s a reminder that art doesn't always need to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices resonate the loudest.