Gezicht in een laan 1870 - 1931

Editor: Here we have "Gezicht in een laan", or "View in a lane", a pencil drawing by Willem Bastiaan Tholen, sometime between 1870 and 1931, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s a wonderfully simple composition… sort of dreamlike in its haziness. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, it's like stepping into a half-remembered dream, isn't it? I feel this strong pull toward the vanishing point, like the lane itself is breathing, pulling us deeper. It’s Tholen capturing not just what he sees, but what he *feels*. Editor: That’s lovely— “what he feels.” So, more than just realism, then? Curator: Absolutely. Realism is just the jumping-off point. It reminds me a bit of Corot's landscapes – that similar softness, a quiet reverence for nature. Have you ever stood in a lane like this and felt like the trees are whispering secrets? Editor: I have! Now that you mention it, I see how the slight blurring of the trees could convey this secretive mood so vividly. Do you think the lack of crisp detail was a conscious decision? Curator: Oh, without a doubt! Every mark, every hazy line is a conscious choice. The medium is so key: the pencil lends itself perfectly to that fleeting, almost ephemeral quality. Think how different it would feel in oils! This is like capturing a whisper on paper. Editor: So, it’s this blend of realism with something more… intangible, that really makes the work sing? Curator: Precisely. It’s an invitation to pause, breathe, and get lost in the quiet beauty of a simple lane. Makes you want to wander, doesn’t it? Editor: It absolutely does. It's made me appreciate the artist's subtle touch and how the pencil strokes almost become a mood. Curator: And for me, it’s a beautiful reminder that art isn’t always about grand statements; sometimes it’s about capturing the quiet poetry of the everyday.