Boerderij met boomgaard 1918

William Degouve de Nuncques made this drawing of a farm with an orchard using pastel. The marks are soft and powdery, like he was coaxing the image into being. Artmaking is a process, right? A journey of discovery where you're not quite sure what you'll find. I love the way the pastel sits on the paper, almost floating. It’s dry but has this subtle luminosity, especially where he’s layered blues and greens to make the lawn. See how the strokes are loose and gestural, capturing the light filtering through the tree? It’s like a whispered secret. Look at the tree on the left; each branch is a deliberate stroke, yet the overall effect is airy and delicate. This reminds me a little of Odilon Redon, who also used pastel to create dreamlike, atmospheric scenes. It’s all about embracing ambiguity, allowing the viewer to bring their own experiences and interpretations to the work. Art is an ongoing conversation.