Landschap met bebouwing 1884 - 1927

Here’s a landscape drawing by Johan Antonie de Jonge which probably came into being through patient observation of a scene in the real world. You know, I find this kind of quiet scene very moving. You can imagine De Jonge outside, trying to translate the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface, filtering what he sees through his own artistic sensibility. Look at the marks he makes to create form and texture! With a minimal approach, the artist is able to show us the nuances of the natural world: the clouds, the fields, the suggestion of buildings in the distance. There’s such beauty in the simplicity of the drawing itself. Think of the endless history of artists who've ventured outdoors with a sketchbook in hand! Each artist engages in this process of translation, adding their own unique voice to a long conversation. It's all about trying to capture something essential, a sense of place, a moment in time, but also about being present in the act of looking and drawing.