Ven bij Oisterwijk 1924

This quiet print of a lake near Oisterwijk was made by Simon Moulijn. The soft grays and blacks create a calm, almost meditative mood, don’t they? I am drawn to the way the artist uses line to define the tree branches. There’s a real sense of touch, almost like he’s feeling his way around the form with the needle. See how the lines vary in weight and direction, creating a sense of depth and texture? It’s almost like a dance, each mark responding to the one before. Look at the way the artist has rendered the water, so still and reflective. It’s like a mirror, capturing the light and atmosphere of the sky above. It reminds me a bit of Whistler, another artist who was fascinated by the subtle nuances of tone and atmosphere. But Moulijn’s touch is more personal, more intimate. He invites us to slow down, to breathe, and to appreciate the quiet beauty of the natural world. It’s a good reminder to embrace the ambiguous, the unfinished, the process itself.