Huizen in Pontresina c. 1869

Jozef Israëls made this watercolor sketch of houses in Pontresina. The sketch is made with fluid strokes and diluted pigments, resulting in a transparent and luminous effect, but it’s also suggestive of the hard labor and modest lives led within those walls. The houses are rendered with loose strokes of color, capturing the essence of their architectural forms. The artist uses watercolor in a way that celebrates its inherent fluidity and transparency, conveying the impression of light and atmosphere on the houses. Israëls work is rooted in the tradition of landscape painting, but with a focus on capturing the atmosphere and character of the scene, rather than a precise depiction. The watercolor medium lends itself well to this approach, as it allows for expressive brushwork and subtle gradations of tone. Ultimately, the materiality of this watercolor work is inseparable from its expressive power. It is not just a picture of houses, but an artifact, laden with associations and historical meaning.