Wilgen aan een sloot bij avond 1885 - 1931

Frederika Henriëtte Broeksmit made this little painting of willows by a ditch at evening time using etching with a muted palette. Look at that dark green, almost brownish hue blanketing the scene, punctuated by the rhythmic vertical lines that might indicate the quiet presence of some trees along the water's edge. It’s like she’s feeling her way through the undergrowth, trying to create some tonal atmosphere. I wonder what it was like to make something so small and yet so suggestive? I see her, squinting her eyes as the twilight settles in, unsure of the shadows cast on the ground and water. I imagine she's thinking of Rembrandt while doing it, finding a shared language and love of dark, moody landscapes. Perhaps she also looked at the Hague School artists, finding a connection to their approach to capturing light and atmosphere. It makes me want to pick up a brush and get lost in the quiet hum of the studio.