Bosgezicht 1873 - 1932

This is "Bosgezicht," a watercolor landscape by Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff. The composition strikes you immediately with its arrangement of vertical lines, forming a dense, almost claustrophobic, view into a forest. Steenhoff’s work is intriguing for how it employs watercolor not to create a sense of airy openness, but rather to build a complex layering of tones and textures. The palette is muted, dominated by grays and greens, creating an atmosphere that feels both enveloping and somewhat somber. Notice how the verticality of the trees is emphasized, with the artist seemingly less interested in the horizon or depth. Steenhoff seems to challenge traditional landscape conventions, inviting a closer look at the structural elements that constitute our perception of space. Consider how the materiality of watercolor—its fluidity and translucence—contributes to a sense of being immersed within the woods. The forest becomes not just a visual scene, but an almost tactile experience.