Duinlandschap, mogelijk met de watertoren te Scheveningen 1884 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this drawing of a dune landscape, possibly with the water tower at Scheveningen, using graphite on paper. Look how the hatching and cross-hatching creates a tonal range, the varying pressure suggesting depth and texture in what could easily be a flat surface. It's like he’s feeling his way through the landscape. His marks are very present, not trying to create an illusion. There's a kind of nervousness, or searching quality, in the marks, and especially in the contrast between the top and the bottom parts. The sky is lighter, with looser scribbles, whereas the dune in the foreground is more compact, with shorter, denser strokes. This emphasis on mark-making draws attention to the physical act of drawing itself. It's a great reminder that art isn't just about what you see, but about how you see, and what you do to communicate that vision. Think of Agnes Martin's subtle pencil grids and how they explore similar ideas of process and perception.