Figuren bij een strandstoel 1884 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this pencil sketch of figures by a beach chair at an unknown time. It’s so alive, isn't it? Like a quick thought, barely captured on paper. Look at the energy in those scribbled lines, building up to suggest form and shadow. De Jonge wasn't trying to be precise; he was after something more immediate. The texture of the paper is almost as important as the marks themselves, giving the whole thing a kind of raw, unfinished quality. I particularly like the way the shading in the top right corner creates a sense of depth, even though it's just a bunch of diagonal strokes. It's almost like he's inviting us to complete the picture in our own minds. This reminds me a bit of some of Manet's sketches – that same sense of capturing a fleeting moment, of not being afraid to leave things unresolved. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be polished and perfect. Sometimes, the most interesting things happen in the rough sketches, in the spaces between the lines.