Landschap met naderend onweer 1800 - 1844

This is Jan Baptiste de Jonghe’s "Landschap met naderend onweer" or "Landscape with Approaching Storm," made using graphite. The drawing is a study in contrasts, defined by the interplay of light and shadow across the landscape. The composition is structured by the winding river which diagonally bisects the space, drawing the eye from the foreground to the distant horizon. De Jonghe uses the impending storm as a semiotic device; the tempestuous sky and wind-bent trees evoke a sense of drama and foreboding. The trees are rendered with a delicate touch, yet they are imbued with a sense of urgency and turmoil, creating a dynamic tension. The cows that cross the river serve as a focal point, anchoring the composition and inviting the viewer to contemplate the relationship between humanity and nature. Note how De Jonghe's manipulation of light, shadow, and perspective establishes a mood that is both serene and unsettling, a duality which underscores the Romantic era's fascination with the sublime.