Jongens aan een waterkant c. 1915 - 1935

D. Viel made Jongens aan een waterkant with pen on paper; it's all about the process of making marks. With just pen on paper, Viel coaxes a whole world into being. Look at how Viel uses all these tiny strokes to build up the forms in the trees. It's almost like the drawing is breathing, like the leaves are rustling in the breeze, you know? And then, notice the way the light glances off the water – it’s all these quick, flickering lines, so simple, yet so effective. It’s like Viel is saying, "Hey, I'm just gonna put this here, and this here, and see what happens." It's so casual, like a jazz solo. The way the boys are caught in mid-gesture makes me think of Daumier, who also captured these slices of everyday life with such empathy. Both artists remind us that art is an ongoing conversation, where ideas are passed down and transformed. And ultimately, it’s up to us to bring our own interpretations to the table.