Duinlandschap met bomen 1884 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this landscape of trees, probably 'en plein air', using graphite. The strokes are so immediate, so gestural. You get a real sense of the artist working quickly, trying to capture a fleeting moment. The way he builds up the tones with these short, scribbly lines reminds me of artists like Van Gogh, who used drawing as a way to really feel their way into a subject. Look at the left-hand side, how the dark lines of the trees contrast with the lighter areas of the sky. Then notice on the right-hand side, how the lines become more open, less dense. It's like he's inviting us to wander into the scene, to get lost in the space. The physicality of the mark-making, the pressure of the graphite on the paper, it all adds to this feeling of being right there in the landscape with him. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be about perfection. Sometimes, it's about embracing the rough edges and the imperfections, and allowing the process to guide you.