Katwijk aan Zee 1882 - 1926

Gerrit Haverkamp made this painting of Katwijk aan Zee, a coastal town in the Netherlands. It's difficult to pin down the exact date, but it gives the impression of a sunny seaside scene rendered in thin layers of ochre, tan, and sienna. There’s a ghostliness to the image which makes me think Haverkamp may have been interested in paring things back to their essence, but could also mean it's unfinished! The paint application is minimal, almost like a watercolor wash, allowing the texture of the surface to peek through. When I look closely at the architecture, I notice Haverkamp’s mark-making is simple, with many small hatches creating the illusion of depth. I'm reminded of James McNeill Whistler’s tonalist landscapes, which are similarly focused on atmosphere and suggestion rather than detailed representation. But, Haverkamp is also doing his own thing here, embracing a kind of stark honesty. It is art making in the raw.