Waterpoortje naar de Zuiderhaven te Enkhuizen 1938

Huib Luns made this work, Waterpoortje naar de Zuiderhaven te Enkhuizen, using pen and ink. Look how Luns applies dense, almost frantic hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tonal range, giving you a real sense of the scene. The texture is so immediate, and the dark areas seem to vibrate against the stark white paper. I’m drawn to the reflections in the water – see how the vertical lines of the buildings dissolve into these chaotic, horizontal strokes. It's like the solid architecture above is just a fleeting, liquid impression below, an ephemeral, unstable shadow of itself. This reminds me of the drawings of Van Gogh, who was, like Luns, also interested in capturing the grittiness of everyday life. The two artists make clear how much meaning can be mined from the simplest of means. It’s a reminder that art isn't about perfect representation; it's about a point of view, an attitude, a feeling.