Boekenmarkt in Den Haag before 1931

Editor: This is "Boekenmarkt in Den Haag" by Willem Bastiaan Tholen, made sometime before 1931. It's currently at the Rijksmuseum. The use of watercolor and mixed media gives it this wonderfully muted, almost dreamlike quality, but also a sort of sketch-like immediacy. How would you approach looking at this piece? Curator: The subdued palette is, I think, the first thing one notices. Observe how Tholen employs layered washes to create depth and shadow, particularly in the architectural elements and the figures within the crowd. Note also the deliberate blurring of lines; there is no attempt to achieve photographic realism here. Instead, Tholen prioritizes capturing the overall atmosphere of the book market. Do you notice the areas where he uses white to suggest light or emphasis? Editor: Yes, particularly in the suggestion of canopies and maybe reflections on the street? The use of white amidst the earth tones is quite striking. Does the contrast serve a specific purpose compositionally? Curator: Precisely. The white serves to highlight the bustling activity of the market, drawing our eyes to key focal points within the composition. Consider how the buildings are suggested, rather than precisely defined. And what about the lines – how would you define their quality? Are they gestural, expressive? Editor: They are certainly gestural – there's a real sense of movement and energy in those lines. Almost like Tholen was trying to capture a fleeting moment. I'm starting to notice the structural techniques beyond just subject matter, thanks! Curator: Indeed, by examining these formal elements – the tonality, the use of line and form – we begin to decode Tholen’s artistic choices and, hopefully, get closer to understanding his vision of the Hague book market. What a wonderful image to consider.