Kanalen i Bruxelles 1866

Editor: This is Johan Barthold Jongkind's "Kanalen i Bruxelles," created in 1866. It's a watercolor drawing, and honestly, it feels so light and airy. It kind of reminds me of a dream. What's your take on this piece? Curator: A dream, eh? I like that. It has a fleeting, almost ephemeral quality, doesn’t it? The way Jongkind captures the light reflecting off the water, blurring the line between reality and reflection...it’s as though he's trying to grasp a memory before it fades. Notice how he doesn’t overwork any area, letting the paper breathe, and thus allowing us to breathe as well. The industrial chimney blends surprisingly harmoniously with the serene cityscape. It gives you a feeling that the world is becoming more mechanical while still wanting to maintain a natural setting. What does the smoke suggest to you? Editor: I hadn't really thought about the chimney smoke before! Now I see it creates this tension between industry and nature. It is making me question whether this canal is being used for industry or leisure, if not both. It also adds a moody contrast to what I initially described as an airy landscape. The use of both horizontal and vertical elements balances out to be appealing. It’s pretty brilliant, isn’t it? Curator: Brilliant, indeed! Jongkind was a master of suggestion. I am intrigued by that chimney myself because if you think about it, without the black smoke the image feels static, yet with it, the scene becomes fluid, the chimney appears alive. That tension is what draws us in! Editor: I was initially drawn in for the aesthetics and overall beauty, but that push and pull you mention is really what gives this drawing staying power. Thanks for enlightening me with your thoughts! Curator: And thank you for prompting me to look at it with fresh eyes! That's the magic of art, isn't it? It continues to reveal itself in new and exciting ways each time you really stop to consider what the artist intended to portray to its viewers.