Landschap 1881 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this landscape drawing with black chalk and brush, probably en plein air. The scene emerges from the surface through quick strokes and layered marks. I imagine de Jonge standing in the field, squinting to see through the light, working fast. The brushstrokes feel intuitive, like he’s trying to capture the essence of the place rather than a literal depiction. The composition is built up through contrasting darks and lights, like shorthand. Look how the vertical lines of the trees anchor the composition, giving a sense of depth. There’s a real sense of atmosphere. The drawing feels fresh, immediate, and full of life, like he is wrestling with nature. What artists do is look at other art and think: ‘I want to do that’. Or ‘I want to do the opposite of that!’ It is a constant back and forth. I find a lot of inspiration in the work of other painters.