Rivierlandschap 1881 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge created this river landscape using graphite. The artist's technique seems spontaneous, as though capturing a fleeting moment in nature. The choice of graphite as a medium lends itself to this effect; it's immediate and accessible. Graphite's inherent qualities of darkness and lightness allow the artist to quickly sketch out forms and capture the textures of the landscape. You can see the variation in tone, from soft, hazy washes to sharp, defined lines, adding depth and atmosphere to the scene. In this context, drawing becomes a democratic medium, available to anyone with paper and pencil. The artist has engaged with skilled traditions of landscape drawing, aligning it with broader histories of creative practice and aesthetics, alongside that of craft and fine arts. The immediacy of the medium and the skill of the artist reminds us that materials, making, and context are crucial to fully understand an artwork, challenging the traditional divide between fine art and craft.