Bos met houthakker en kar 1924

Willem de Zwart made this etching, titled 'Bos met houthakker en kar', using a monochromatic palette to depict a forest scene with a woodcutter and cart. What grabs me here is the artist’s commitment to process. The marks are so delicate, the lines feel so intentional, like the artist is thinking through the image as they make it. Look at how de Zwart uses the etched line to create texture and depth. The density of lines builds up the forms of the trees and the cart, while the sparser marks suggest the light filtering through the woods. Notice the way the light catches the horse. The etched line allows for a kind of atmospheric perspective that’s really beautiful. This piece reminds me of the work of the Barbizon School, artists like Corot, who were also interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in the landscape. Like them, de Zwart shows us that art is not just about representing the world, but about exploring the possibilities of the medium.