Heuvellandschap 1848 - 1888

This is "Heuvellandschap," or "Hilly Landscape," a sketch made by Anton Mauve, in charcoal on paper, which now resides at the Rijksmuseum. The sketch employs a monochromatic palette, dominated by shades of gray, which creates a somber, almost melancholic mood. Mauve uses a network of hatching, cross-hatching and swift, directional strokes. This creates texture and volume across the landscape, giving the hills, clouds and path a tangible presence. The composition is structured around a low horizon line which allows the sky to dominate the upper half of the sketch, adding to the overall feeling of expanse. The path, delineated by loose lines, leads the eye into the distance, inviting the viewer to explore the landscape. The placement of skeletal trees disrupts the uniformity of the hills and acts as vertical accents, drawing attention to the atmospheric perspective. The sketch encapsulates a fleeting moment, recorded with a sense of immediacy.