Menigte aan de rand van een verwoeste stad 1916

Henri de Groux made this print, 'Menigte aan de rand van een verwoeste stad', using a technique that reminds me of drawing. It’s all about line, tone and the way those marks build up to make an image, like putting charcoal to paper. Look at how the surface is worked. See those scribbly, scratchy lines, almost frantic in their energy? De Groux piles them up to create this dense, shadowy atmosphere, full of emotion. Notice how the artist renders the figures, almost melting into the smoke and rubble around them. The faces are particularly striking; they seem to capture a raw, unfiltered grief. This work brings to mind Käthe Kollwitz, especially in her unflinching portrayals of war and its impact on ordinary people. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be beautiful; sometimes, it needs to be a mirror reflecting the harsh realities of the world.