Havengezicht in Rotterdam 1917

This is Johan Hendrik van Mastenbroek’s, Havengezicht in Rotterdam, made with etching. There is a real sense of atmosphere in this muted, monochromatic etching, it’s all about the process and the feeling it evokes. You can see the texture of the paper coming through; it’s almost like the scene is emerging from a mist. The magic really lies in the details, like the way he renders the reflections in the water, a series of quick, almost scribbled lines, capturing the sense of movement. He focuses in on that single moment, not getting bogged down in minute details, just capturing the essence. Mastenbroek reminds me a little of Whistler, in the way he reduces a scene to its bare essentials, exploring the subtle tonal variations within a limited palette. It’s a reminder that art isn't about photorealistic depiction, it’s about interpretation, and about allowing the viewer to bring their own experiences and imagination to the work.