Gezicht op Lausanne II 1861 - 1862

Matthijs Maris made this view of Lausanne with graphite and watercolor on paper. Looking closely, the architecture and landscape dissolve into soft, blurred forms. The blurred appearance is due to Maris's unique way of applying watercolor, which he diluted to create a hazy atmosphere. Maris built up the image through layering, erasing, and reworking, a time-consuming process of reduction and refinement. This recalls the mezzotint printmaking technique, where the artist works from dark to light. The extensive labor involved reflects Maris’s commitment to the act of making. He was less interested in capturing a specific scene and more focused on expressing an overall impression. The tonal range, from light grays to deep blacks, emphasizes the textural qualities of the paper itself, a key element of the work. Maris used traditional materials to create something distinct, blurring the boundaries between painting and drawing, high art and the labor of craft.