Duinlandschap met bomen 1884 - 1927

This landscape with trees by Johan Antonie de Jonge is made with graphite, and it feels like it’s been coaxed onto the page, emerging slowly. I imagine De Jonge outside with his sketchbook, trying to figure out how to describe the scene in front of him. Look at those scribbled marks building into these dense clusters of foliage on the left. Then there's the right side, more lightly rendered. I bet he wasn't happy with it. It's fascinating to see the evidence of the artist at work. The contrast between the light and dark areas creates depth, pulling us into the scene, almost like we’re standing there with De Jonge, squinting at the horizon, trying to make sense of it all. You know, art-making is always a conversation with other art; he's talking to other landscape artists, and they're all talking to each other, across time. It’s nice to be included in the conversation.