Kerkplein in Neede 1893 - 1913

Albert Hemelman made this work, Kerkplein in Neede, with graphite on paper. I love the light in this drawing, and how the artist captures it, one tiny mark at a time. The process of building up tone with graphite is so slow, so methodical, it’s almost meditative. The way Hemelman uses graphite creates a sort of velvety texture, especially in the trees. It’s soft, almost hazy, but then you get closer and see the sharp, precise lines defining the architecture. The dark doorway on the left is particularly striking; a deep, mysterious void. Look at how the light rakes across the cobblestones, each one rendered with such care. This reminds me of some of the early landscape drawings of Mondrian, that same attention to detail, that same feeling of quiet contemplation. Art’s not about answers, it’s about questions, about seeing the world in different ways.