Landscape 

Anthonie van Borssom rendered this landscape using pen and brown wash, resulting in a small yet evocative scene. The limited palette of sepia tones creates a unified, almost melancholic atmosphere. Notice how Borssom uses washes to define the sky and water, achieving a sense of depth and reflection. The trees on the left are densely packed, their forms suggested rather than meticulously detailed, contrasting with the open expanse of water where cows are resting. In the distance, the faint outline of a city hints at human presence, yet the emphasis remains on the natural world. Borssom’s technique highlights the formal qualities of landscape art, emphasizing mood and atmosphere through simplified forms and tonal variations. The scene prompts us to contemplate the relationship between nature and humanity, reflecting a broader artistic and philosophical interest in the sublime and the picturesque during the Dutch Golden Age.