Boom 1874 - 1875

Willem Cornelis Rip created this drawing with graphite, rendering a landscape dominated by a fallen tree. The muted tones and soft textures create a contemplative mood, inviting viewers into a quiet, natural scene. Rip's work shows a keen engagement with form. The composition centers around the horizontal mass of the tree trunk. Through the delicate gradations of graphite, he meticulously captures the rough texture of bark and the density of foliage. The strategic use of hatching and cross-hatching not only defines the play of light and shadow, but also adds depth and complexity. The artist creates a semiotic dialogue between the solid, unyielding form of the tree and the fleeting, ephemeral qualities of light and shadow. Rip challenges traditional landscape conventions. By focusing on a fallen, decaying tree, he engages with broader themes of time, change, and the transient nature of existence. The drawing serves as a meditation on the passage of time and the cyclical processes of nature.