Gezicht op een Italiaanse stad 1920

Reijer Stolk made this view of an Italian town using watercolour and ink on paper. I love the subdued, earthy colors; it feels like a memory of a place rather than a direct representation. Look at those dark outlines defining each form, almost like stained glass. I wonder if Stolk was thinking about architecture when he made this? He flattens the space, reducing buildings and landscape to geometric forms. Imagine him, brush in hand, carefully applying the washes of color, letting the ink bleed slightly into the paper, creating soft edges. The dome of the distant church is a particularly nice touch. It feels solid, yet also dreamlike. Stolk's vision reminds me of Lyonel Feininger's cubist landscapes, but with a warmer, more intimate feel. You sense a personal connection to the place, a quiet appreciation of its beauty. It's a reminder that painting isn't just about what we see, but how we feel.