Landscape with Cottage 

Maggie Laubser created this "Landscape with Cottage" using watercolor and crayon on paper. Notice how the textured strokes of crayon create definition and depth, juxtaposed with the fluidity of the watercolor. Laubser was a South African expressionist painter, and the visible marks in this landscape offer a connection to the artist’s hand. The combination of media, using both crayon and watercolor, creates a vibrant interpretation of the scene, with distinct planes of color and shading. Laubser captured the effects of light and atmosphere to convey a strong sense of place, reflecting the rolling hills and open skies of the South African landscape. The layering of crayon and watercolor, which are often considered preliminary materials, elevates the landscape into a work of art. It is a fine example of how everyday materials can create evocative artworks that challenge traditional boundaries between craft and fine art.