Een boomstam als bruggetje over een rivier c. 1603

Paulus Willemsz. van Vianen made this drawing, "A tree trunk as a bridge over a river," using pen and brush in gray ink on paper. The artist's skilled manipulation of line and wash brings the landscape to life, evoking a sense of place through humble, natural materials. The choice of humble materials—pen, brush, and gray ink— mirrors the unassuming subject matter: a simple tree trunk serving as a bridge. The artist masterfully coaxes the textures of wood, earth, and water from his media. The pen work gives the drawing structure, delineating the forms of the landscape. The brushwork softens the lines, creating tonal variations that evoke atmosphere and depth. The gray ink, applied in varying degrees of dilution, enhances this effect, imbuing the scene with a muted, naturalistic palette. In this drawing, materials and subject are interwoven; and Van Vianen elevated a common scene into a work of art.