Figuren in de branding 1881 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this drawing of figures on the shore with what looks like a stick of graphite, pressing hard to build up areas of tone and mass, and lightly suggesting outlines. For me, drawing is always about decision making, where to start, how dark to go, when to stop, and de Jonge has made so many interesting choices here. I love how he’s used the side of the graphite to create the textures of the sea, and this contrasts with the short, stabbing marks that define the figures and trees in the background. Look at that little cluster of marks on the right, see how it suggests a figure buffeted by the wind, or maybe a clump of windswept grass. There’s a real sense of atmosphere and movement in this piece. The way de Jonge uses tone and texture reminds me of some of the drawings of Van Gogh, which are similarly raw and expressive. It shows that art is a conversation, an ongoing exploration of how to see and depict the world around us.