Bospad c. 1868s - 1878s

Jan Willem van Borselen created this pencil drawing, "Bospad," where the simplicity of the medium enhances the study of form and space. The composition emphasizes a rhythmic interplay between light and shadow through the sketch's tonal variations. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to build volume and texture, creating depth and suggesting the dense foliage of the forest. Note how Van Borselen's marks aren't just descriptive but also expressive, conveying the tactile quality of bark and leaves. The light filters through the canopy, creating dynamic contrasts that draw the eye through the scene. The composition is framed as if glimpsed, inviting us to consider how landscape is not merely seen but experienced. "Bospad" captures a moment of quiet observation, revealing the artist's engagement with the natural world through the language of line and tone. This work reminds us that meaning in art is not fixed but emerges from our encounters with the artwork's formal elements.