Gezicht tussen bomen in een woud in Nederlands-Indië 1921 - 1922

Jan Veth made this watercolor on paper of a wood in the Dutch East Indies. It’s dreamy, like the artist was trying to record something fleeting. I imagine Veth, squinting in the sun, sketchbook in hand, trying to capture the light filtering through the leaves. There’s a softness, a looseness to the marks, like he’s chasing after something just beyond his grasp. I wonder if he felt overwhelmed by the density of the forest, the sheer abundance of life. The roots of the trees feel so alive. There’s something about the light here that reminds me of Corot. And that feeling of being swallowed up by nature reminds me of some of the Hudson River School painters. Artists are always in conversation with each other, riffing on the same themes, but bringing their own unique experiences and perspectives to the table. This piece is not hyper-realistic, it invites us to imagine and feel. And ultimately, that’s what painting is all about: not just seeing, but feeling.