Wilgen aan een sloot bij avond 1885 - 1931

Frederika Henriëtte Broeksmit made this small print, Wilgen aan een sloot bij avond, probably in the early twentieth century. It is made with a kind of dusky, muted palette, that feels like it’s been mixed from lots of greens and browns. Look at the way the dark greens settle in the lower portion of the print, denser and more intense. It's almost like you can feel the dampness rising from the earth. This density gives way to a lighter, more atmospheric haze toward the top, evoking that feeling when the sun has just set, and the world is filled with a soft, diffused light. The textures seem to build up in layers, revealing the material process through strokes and gradations. It reminds me a bit of some of the Tonalist painters, George Inness for example, who were also interested in capturing the mood and atmosphere of a scene rather than a direct representation. Like a half-remembered dream, this piece invites you to bring your own memories and imaginings.