Rivierbocht, in de verte huizen 1929

Pieter Ras made this drawing, Rivierbocht, in de verte huizen, with graphite on paper, and right away I see a balance between what’s there, the marks on the page, and what’s not. Looking at the marks, the pencil feels like it's dancing, light touches building up the forms. See that smudge by the tree? It’s not just a mistake; it’s part of the atmosphere. I love how the buildings in the distance are barely there, just ghostly suggestions. It's like Ras is inviting us to fill in the blanks, to co-create the scene with him. The little boat in the foreground is the most clearly defined object, giving us something solid to hold onto in this hazy landscape. This drawing reminds me a bit of Whistler's nocturnes, that same interest in mood and atmosphere. But where Whistler used paint, Ras uses the simplicity of pencil to create a world that’s both delicate and evocative. Art, right, it's all about this ongoing conversation.