The way on the water 

August Macke sketched "The way on the water" using graphite, evoking a scene of leisure and contemplation by the water's edge. The composition is structured around a dominant tree that anchors the foreground, its branches and foliage creating a canopy that filters light and frames the scene. Macke uses stark contrasts in tone, with bold, dark strokes defining the tree and figures, set against the lighter, sketchier rendering of the background. The woman with the umbrella stands upright, her image in sharp focus. Macke destabilizes traditional notions of perspective and depth through his expressive use of line and tone. The formal arrangement encourages a reading of the drawing not just as a depiction of a scene, but as a reflection of a subjective experience, inviting us to consider the relationship between observer and observed.