Bospad in de herfst 1916

Reijer Stolk made this watercolor called “Bospad in de Herfst,” or “Forest Path in Autumn.” Imagine Stolk outside in the cool air, rapidly capturing the scene with loose, transparent washes. He’s got these ochre, green, and grey hues, and there’s a real feeling of transience, like the leaves are about to fall. I find myself wondering about the personal story behind this painting – what Stolk was going through in his life. It feels like he’s sketching out the bare bones of the landscape, capturing just enough detail to suggest a place, but leaving much unsaid. It makes me think about other landscape painters, like Cezanne, who tried to capture the essence of a place through color and form. There’s a real dialogue happening, a conversation between artists across time. Each of them grappling with how to represent the world around them, and in so doing, revealing something about themselves.