Gezicht op het bordes van Paleis Huis ten Bosch tussen een rij bomen 1926

This drawing of the Paleis Huis ten Bosch by Simon Moulijn is made up of what looks like thousands of tiny marks, all working together to describe light and shadow. It’s a reminder that artmaking is really a process of adding up little decisions. Looking closely, you can see how Moulijn uses the density of these marks to create a sense of depth. The trees in the foreground are thick and dark, and the palace in the background is much lighter, almost fading into the distance. There’s a beautiful contrast between the solid, vertical lines of the tree trunks and the more scribbly, chaotic marks that make up the leaves. It almost feels like the trees are breathing. Moulijn reminds me a bit of someone like Alfred Sisley, capturing a sense of place through patient observation. Art isn’t about capturing a perfect image; it’s about building something new out of simple gestures, open to infinite interpretation.