Rivierlandschap met bebouwing c. 1901 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this river landscape with buildings, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century, using what looks like charcoal or graphite on paper. You can really see the artist working through the scene, making quick, sketchy marks. The texture is all in those layered lines, creating a sense of depth and shadow, especially in the water reflecting the buildings. Look at the windmill – the way it's rendered with these dense, almost scribbled lines gives it a real weight and presence, while the surrounding areas are lighter, more open. It’s like the artist is focusing our attention, guiding us through the landscape. This piece reminds me a bit of some of the landscape sketches by Van Gogh, you know, that same energy and immediacy. Art’s like a conversation, right? Artists riffing off each other, finding new ways to see and feel the world. And it’s never about one fixed meaning, but all the possibilities in between.