Stadsgezicht met een brug c. 1901 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge rendered this city view with bridge using graphite on paper. The qualities of graphite – its powdery texture and the way it smudges – are central to the work’s hazy atmosphere. De Jonge expertly exploits the physical properties of graphite to suggest depth and form. Notice how the varying pressure creates darker, more defined lines closer to the viewer, and lighter, fainter strokes for distant elements. This choice imbues the scene with a dreamlike quality, almost blurring the line between reality and memory. In its immediacy, the drawing privileges the artist’s gesture, his direct engagement with the world around him. De Jonge captures a fleeting moment in time, a slice of urban life translated through the simple act of mark-making. Ultimately, the city view with bridge is a testament to the power of drawing as both a mode of observation, and a form of material expression.