Strandgezicht met de zee c. 1901 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this drawing of a beach with what looks like graphite on paper. The marks are so atmospheric, like a memory of a day. It reminds me that artmaking is a process, not just about capturing a perfect image. I’m really drawn to the texture. The graphite feels almost chalky, doesn't it? It's applied in layers, creating depth with subtle shifts in tone. The horizontal strokes suggest the vastness of the sea, while the more chaotic marks above evoke the sky. Notice that dark horizontal line bisecting the image. It’s not just a horizon, it’s a feeling. It could be melancholy, or just the quiet awe of standing by the sea. Looking at the mark-making in this work makes me think a little bit of the drawings of Cy Twombly, but also, going way back, the tonal landscapes of the 17th century. It's like De Jonge is in conversation with all these artists. Art doesn't have to give us all the answers. Sometimes the most powerful works are the ones that leave room for our own experiences.