Gezicht door bomen op een hooischuur 1872 - 1939

Egbert Rubertus Derk Schaap created this artwork titled 'Gezicht door bomen op een hooischuur' with charcoal on paper. At first glance, the drawing presents a study in contrasts. The composition, predominantly monochromatic, stages a play between dense, dark foreground elements and a lighter, more open background. Schaap uses the charcoal medium to evoke a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the detailed rendering of the foliage. The arrangement of the trees acts as a natural frame, drawing the eye towards the subtle presence of the hay barn in the distance. This formal structure might remind us of Ferdinand de Saussure's concept of structuralism. The artwork becomes a system of signs. For example, the trees in the foreground act as signifiers, pointing to the signified, which is the tranquil rural scene beyond. Through the formal interplay of light, shadow, and compositional elements, Schaap invites the viewer to decode the landscape. The charcoal, used to render the scene, thus becomes a medium not just of representation but of philosophical inquiry.