Kale bomen in het gras 1916

Jos Croïn made this etching, ‘Kale bomen in het gras,’ with subtle lines and a muted palette, emphasizing the delicate process of mark-making. Look at how Croïn uses these fine, scratchy lines to build up the image. The texture is almost like a whisper, isn't it? Notice the way the lines define the trees, each stroke carefully placed to suggest form and movement. The bare branches reach out like fingers against the pale sky, and the grass is just a suggestion, a field of gentle strokes. It's all so understated, so quiet. This print reminds me of some of Whistler's tonalist etchings, where mood and atmosphere are more important than detail. There’s a sense of intimacy here, inviting us to contemplate the beauty of the everyday. It’s a reminder that sometimes, less really is more.