Studie van een berk 1918

Mia Bake made this study of a birch tree at an unknown date, but it’s safe to say that the methodical approach and delicate marks speak to artmaking as a process. The image, rendered in soft shades of brown, captures a serene landscape. The birch tree stands tall, its thin branches reaching skyward. The lines are so fine, so precise, they give the impression of a patient, almost meditative, process. If you look closer at the point where the trunk meets the earth, you can see the artist's delicate strokes capturing the subtle textures of the bark and the gentle undulations of the ground. This level of detail isn't just about replication; it's about feeling, about deeply observing the world. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's quiet insistence on the grid, a similar dedication to a contained system. Both artists, in their own way, invite us to slow down, to look closer, and to find beauty in the understated. It’s in this careful looking that art truly lives.