Landschap 1881 - 1927

This landscape by Johan Antonie de Jonge seems to be made with charcoal and maybe some kind of wash on paper. The marks are so gestural, like he was really feeling the landscape rather than just looking at it. I love the way the charcoal sort of clumps together in some areas, creating these dense thickets of dark, while other parts are much lighter and airier, almost like a mist. The texture is so raw and immediate; you can practically feel the tooth of the paper. Look at how the vertical strokes in the foreground create this sense of depth, pulling you into the scene. It's like he's inviting you to wander through this mysterious forest. It makes me think of other artists who were trying to capture the essence of nature through expressive mark-making, like the German Expressionists. Art is always about finding your own voice within this ongoing conversation.