Waterpomp bij een huis in Voorburg 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this tiny etching of a water pump near a house in Voorburg. The way the artist uses the etched line is so compelling. The entire image seems to emerge from a network of scratches. I love the material quality of the marks, the way they build up to create the impression of light and shadow. Look at how the texture of the wall is conveyed with these short, broken lines. It reminds me of the way Cy Twombly would draw, all scratchy and uncertain, but somehow so full of feeling. There’s a quiet, unassuming beauty to this little print, like a forgotten corner of the world that’s been rendered with care and attention. It’s like Grondhout is saying, "Even the most ordinary things can be beautiful if you really look at them." It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about grand gestures or profound statements, it can also be about the simple act of seeing and feeling.