Landschap bij Brederode met wandelaars op een pad 1847

Cornelis Springer made this landscape near Brederode using pen in brown and brush in gray. The choice of watercolor has a direct impact on the image: the consistency of the pigment is thin and translucent, almost transparent, which helps to create an open and airy atmosphere. It speaks to the artist’s ability to harness the fluidity of watercolor, allowing it to blend and flow in order to evoke a sense of atmosphere. The application of the washes is relatively quick, indicating it may have been completed on site, a reflection of the changing status of landscape painters at the time, moving away from the studio. The delicate touch and the use of subtle gradations in tone create a sense of depth and distance. Springer's emphasis on the materiality of his medium elevates the artwork from a mere representation of a scene to a testament of the capabilities and affordances of paint, brush, and paper.