Jule- og nytårskort 1916

This Christmas and New Year card was made by Axel Hou in 1916. I can imagine him carefully etching the plate with delicate lines, trying to capture the ethereal quality of the angel. It looks as though he was distributing it to his family. It seems to me like a real labour of love. I like to think about the artist, Hou, as he created this image. I imagine him carefully crafting the image of the angel, paying close attention to her form and expression. The angel is so gentle, but the wings are drawn with purpose and rigour. The radiant beams emanating from behind her head add to the sense of warmth and joy. I am touched by the idea that artists are in an ongoing conversation, responding to the world and to each other's work. I am reminded of other printmakers like Edvard Munch and Käthe Kollwitz. I think it would be neat to put them all in a room together and see what they come up with.