Aquarel van Nederlandse militairen, 1831 1900 - 1918

This watercolor of Dutch soldiers was made by an anonymous artist in 1831. I love the way the colors and shapes of the figures blend together to create a unified whole. Imagine the artist mixing the watery pigments, trying to catch the light glinting off the soldiers' uniforms. There’s a tenderness to the washes, but also a real sense of observation. I wonder if the artist was embedded with this troop, sketching them in situ and trying to capture their likeness while they drilled or rested. The way they’ve rendered the horses, with such care and detail, makes me think of Stubbs. Painters are always looking at other painters, picking up on gestures and details that resonate with them and then translating that into their own practice. This watercolor feels like a quiet conversation between artists across time, each one learning from the other, and pushing the medium forward.