Bomen 1885 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen made this drawing, Bomen, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, probably en plein air. The mark-making is so direct and energetic, it feels like a visual diary entry. See how the repeated scribbles create a sense of depth and texture, like he’s trying to capture not just what he sees, but also how it feels to be there, amongst the trees. The materiality of the work is so immediate: you can almost feel the roughness of the paper and hear the scratch of the pencil. Look at how the strokes vary in pressure and direction, building up a layered surface that vibrates with life. The linear quality of the drawing is lovely. The bare minimum is provided but it's enough to understand what the artist is trying to convey. Tholen’s approach reminds me of the quick studies made by 19th-century landscape painters like Corot. It's all about capturing a fleeting impression, and embracing the beauty of the unfinished.