Afgemeerde schepen aan de oever van de Ganges in Benares 1917

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this drawing of boats moored on the Ganges riverbank in Benares. I love the simplicity of the mark-making here. It's like he's thinking out loud with his pencil. The whole thing feels light and airy, just a few strokes giving us these tall masts and the jumble of boats. The color is understated, almost like a memory. It's not about showing off, but about capturing a feeling, a moment. And then there are those tiny figures carrying things on their heads, so small, yet so important to the scene. It reminds me of some of Matisse’s drawings, that same sense of getting the most with the least. Art isn't about perfection. It’s about being real and true to what you see and feel.