Parklandskab. La Côte de Grâce, Honfleur 1904 - 1907

Othon Friesz made this drawing of Parklandskab, La Côte de Grâce, Honfleur with ink on paper. Friesz is sketching out an image, like a musical notation. There's a freedom in the marks that’s so open and playful. The texture isn’t about the ink sitting on the page, but about how the marks define the space. Look at the squiggles and short, quick lines he uses to build the form of the trees. It’s a real shorthand, a code for volume and light. The way he captures the movement of the water with just a few strokes – it's almost like he's conducting the scene rather than just representing it. It reminds me of the drawings of Marsden Hartley, that same impulsive energy, a kind of direct, unmediated response to the world. It's not about perfection; it's about the fleeting, imperfect beauty of the moment.