Zicht op Delft 1915 - 1917

Editor: Here we have Jules Schmalzigaug's "View of Delft," created with pastels sometime between 1915 and 1917. The broken strokes of color are quite striking. What jumps out to me is the way the yellow dominates, almost flattening the sense of space. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, the formal arrangement asserts itself. Notice how Schmalzigaug constructs the cityscape not through representational accuracy, but through a carefully considered arrangement of lines and colors. Consider the texture. The layering of pastel strokes generates a palpable surface, resisting illusionistic depth. It emphasizes the flatness of the picture plane. Editor: So, it's less about depicting Delft realistically and more about the interaction of those elements? Curator: Precisely. Observe the dark, almost geometric shapes juxtaposed against the bright yellows and greens. They create a tension, a visual rhythm that pulls the eye across the surface. How do these formal contrasts impact your perception? Editor: I see what you mean. It's less about individual buildings, and more about the push and pull of light and dark, the way the colors vibrate against each other. I hadn't focused on the texture before, but I can see how important the materiality is to the overall effect. Curator: The interplay of color and form takes precedence over representational detail. That's how we approach expressionistic explorations of urban landscapes, searching beyond their conventional forms. Editor: It’s interesting to think of a cityscape being deconstructed and rebuilt with just colour and form as the key elements! Curator: Indeed, a successful example that pushes formal components as meaning-makers!