Gezicht te Edam 1901 - 1909

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this picture of Edam with ink on paper, but when? The neat repetition in the roof tiles, the careful mirroring of the building on the canal; it is as if Nieuwenkamp is laying down a series of rules to follow. Look at how he uses the white space to build the form. The blank areas and the dark areas converse, each one giving value to the other. I like how this methodical approach is offset by the organic shapes of the trees and foliage. These marks feel like they’ve been drawn from observation, a direct response to the subject. What a great mix! This piece reminds me of M.C. Escher, both artists seem interested in the play between line and space. But, while Escher used impossible geometry, Nieuwenkamp roots his image in reality.