The Accident – Original Noir Illustration by Charles Burki, 1964
€ 850
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1964
Mapmaker / artist
Charles Burki, Dutch, 1964
Technique
Ink and gouache wash on paper
Sheet size
25.5 × 36.5 cm (10.0 × 14.4 in)
Condition
Excellent
Reference
BG-Bea23
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Condition with strong contrast and well-preserved tones. Light handling traces and minimal age toning at the edges, consistent with original studio work.
About this sheet
The Accident – Original Noir Illustration by Charles Burki, 1964
This dramatic original illustration by Charles Burki (1909–1994), signed and dated 1964, captures a moment of chilling aftermath. A young woman lies motionless on rocky ground, her hair gently spread around her face, while a man in a suit approaches from a crashed car in the background. Power lines stretch across the empty sky, emphasizing the isolation and tension of the scene. The viewer is left suspended between accident and intent, compassion and guilt — a hallmark of Burki’s powerful visual storytelling.
Rendered in monochrome gouache and ink wash, the composition reveals Burki’s cinematic precision and control of atmosphere. The delicate tonal transitions from light to shadow give the scene a haunting stillness. Every detail, from the folds of the woman’s clothing to the distant telephone poles, is crafted with meticulous realism, underscoring Burki’s mastery as one of the Netherlands’ finest illustrators of the postwar era.
Charles Burki’s life was marked by extraordinary experiences that deeply informed his art. Born in Bandung, Dutch East Indies, he endured imprisonment during World War II and survived two near-death events: the sinking of a Japanese transport ship and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, where he was being held as a prisoner of war. After returning to the Netherlands, he rebuilt his career as an illustrator, contributing to major Dutch magazines such as Elsevier, Panorama, and De Groene Amsterdammer. His works from the 1950s and 1960s often depict psychological tension, mystery, and moral ambiguity — themes rooted in his firsthand knowledge of survival and human fragility.
This 1964 illustration exemplifies Burki’s ability to merge realism with emotional narrative. Whether created for a crime serial, film adaptation, or book cover, it carries the unmistakable atmosphere of mid-century suspense and moral complexity.
Framing tips: Best displayed in a black or dark walnut frame with a white or light-gray mat to enhance the noir ambiance and fine detail.
