Vaart tussen bomen 1908

Jan Toorop made this pastel drawing of a canal between trees at an unknown date. The mark making is so simple and direct, it's almost childlike, and yet it captures the feeling of being in nature so well. I’m struck by the texture of the pastel on the paper – you can almost feel the graininess of the pigment. The colors are muted, like a hazy summer day. There are greens, yellows, oranges and browns, all layered on top of each other in a way that creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. Look how Toorop uses the vertical strokes of green to suggest the reflections in the water, with some scribbled horizontal marks adding texture to the bridge above. It reminds me of the way Agnes Martin would use simple lines to create a sense of space and light. Like Toorop, Impressionist artists like Monet were interested in capturing the fleeting moments of light and color in nature. But where Monet was more concerned with optical realism, Toorop seems more interested in capturing the feeling of being in nature, the sense of peace and tranquility that comes from being surrounded by trees and water. It’s a beautiful example of how art can transport us to another place and time.