Knotwilg aan het water 1872 - 1939

Egbert Rubertus Derk Schaap made this drawing of a waterside willow, probably on location, with charcoal on paper. Look closely, and you will see how the image emerges from a flurry of marks. He is making and unmaking the image, almost as quickly as it takes to see it. The texture of the paper is crucial; it allows the charcoal to grab on, creating depth and shadow. The dark, angular lines of the willow contrast with the softer, smudged tones of the sky. It’s as if Schaap is inviting us to witness the landscape’s raw energy. Notice how the reeds in the foreground are rendered with quick, confident strokes, each one distinct yet part of the whole. I love the fact that each of these marks can be seen individually, as a record of the artists process. This piece reminds me of drawings by Van Gogh, who often used a similar approach to capture the essence of a scene. For both, drawing is a way of thinking, a conversation between the artist, the material, and the world.