Johan Braakensiek door Albert Hahn Possibly 1911

Here's an image of Johan Braakensiek made by Albert Hahn using lithography. I'm just imagining him in his studio, working on this image. The portrait is stark and graphic, like a woodcut. The cross-hatching of lines creates textures – just look at the hair and the tie! You can almost feel the pressure of the artist's hand as he built up these areas of tone. I find the background a bit oppressive, like the walls are closing in. The subject's face is really intense, and contrasts with the ornamental shapes behind. Hahn captures something about the sitter through the physical act of mark-making. He's doing something with his own hand, channeling his thoughts and feelings towards Braakensiek. In his own way, Hahn's work feels like a conversation with other artists and portraitists. It's like he's building on their language and knowledge, pushing the boundaries of what a portrait can communicate.