Landschap met een kerktoren 1905

Willem Cornelis Rip made this landscape with a church tower in graphite, probably en plein air. The network of marks reminds me of Cy Twombly's doodles, but here, they're grounded in observation. I like how Rip creates depth using only a few, light touches. Look at the way the lines radiate outward from the bottom center, guiding your eye towards the horizon. There's a real sense of movement. Notice the density of marks around the church tower, that darker cluster anchors the composition. The looseness stops it from becoming too overworked. It's like a visual diary entry, capturing a fleeting moment. Sketches like this remind us that art is as much about the process of seeing as it is about the final product.