Gezicht op de Slatuinen in Amsterdam 1892 - 1928

Johannes Löhr created this artwork, “Gezicht op de Slatuinen in Amsterdam” using pencil. The artist's hand moved with such care, teasing out the scene of Amsterdam with delicate marks and shading. I can see him, pencil in hand, squinting at the scene before him, trying to capture not just the buildings but the quiet essence of the place. The rooftop of the houses and the silhouette of the towers have a certain humility and vulnerability. The artist doesn't seem to strive for grandness or perfection. The way Löhr uses the pencil makes me think of other artists who found beauty in simplicity, like Agnes Martin. There's something very grounding and human in the act of taking a simple tool and using it to express what you see and feel. It reminds me that art-making is an ongoing conversation. I feel invited to look closer at the world around me and discover beauty in the everyday.