Gezicht op Arnhem, 1672 1900 - 1903

Gezicht op Arnhem, made in 1672 by the frères Moreau, is a landscape drawing that unfolds before us in delicate lines. The brothers capture this panoramic view using what seems to be a sepia ink, it's a study in how much you can do with so little. I'm drawn to the way the Morneau's use this limited palette to describe an entire world. The washes create depth, and there’s a real sense of atmosphere. The lines are so economical, a few strokes suggesting the weight of buildings or the flow of water. It's like they're thinking through drawing, each mark leading to the next. Look at the lower bank of the river. The marks there, they almost feel abstract, but somehow they resolve into the real. For me, the piece recalls the landscape drawings of Rembrandt. There’s a similar sense of immediacy and the same interest in the expressive potential of line. These artists remind us that art is really a conversation, built from looking and responding across time.