Schetsblad met twee landschappen 1715 - 1798

This is a sketch made by Dionys van Nijmegen, a Dutch artist, of two landscapes on a single sheet of paper using graphite and perhaps a touch of blue wash. The nature of drawing allows for a direct connection between the artist's hand, mind, and the material. The graphite, a humble material, captures the artist's fleeting observations. Look closely and you can see the varying pressure and speed of the artist's hand, creating different tones and textures, suggesting the density of foliage or the stillness of water. The sketch reveals the artist's process, the way he built up the composition through layers of lines. These rapid marks convey the sense of light and atmosphere, giving life to the landscapes. Nijmegen uses traditional materials and processes, yet elevates them through his skill. It is through understanding the artist's techniques, and attentiveness to the materials, that we come to appreciate not only the image, but also the moment of its making.