Twee meisjes in bruidskleding 1872 - 1950

Barbara Elisabeth van Houten made this etching, Twee meisjes in bruidskleding, using fine lines and subtle shading. I see the artist gently coaxing these figures out of the plate, watching them emerge line by line. There’s a real tenderness here as Van Houten captures the two girls, probably sisters, playing dress up. What I love is the way the scratchy lines create a sense of movement and fleeting time. The artist captures something about the way kids play – everything is provisional. The lines build up, they describe form, yes, but also feeling. I think of other artists who’ve worked with etching, like Rembrandt or Käthe Kollwitz, all wrestling with the same questions of how to make a mark, how to make it count. Artists are always talking to each other across time, picking up the thread, and seeing where it leads. It's a beautiful conversation, and this print is a lovely part of it.