Begijnhof Brugge 1941

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this serene image of Begijnhof Brugge with brown ink on paper. Just look at the scratchy, busy energy of the marks, all working together to evoke a quiet, still scene. I imagine the artist standing there, maybe with a sketchbook, quickly trying to capture the essence of this place, the way the light hits those old buildings. The ink is applied in layers, creating depth and texture. You can almost feel the age of the bricks and the stillness of the air. There's something so direct and honest about this approach, a real sense of seeing. It reminds me of other landscape painters who were trying to capture a sense of place, like the Impressionists, but with a more intimate, personal touch. It's like de Vries is saying, "This is how I see it, this is what it feels like to be here." And that's what makes it so compelling. It is a place, a feeling, an encounter.