Gezicht in de duinen, met kleurnotities 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this sketch of dunes, with color notations, on paper, at an unknown date. Dijsselhof captured the scene using graphite pencil, a readily available and relatively inexpensive material that democratized drawing. The physical properties of graphite allowed for quick, precise lines, ideal for on-site sketches. The artist made notations on the scene in handwriting, rather than focusing on the illusion of depth and light. The use of pencil and paper underscores the artwork’s function as a study, a preparatory exploration rather than a finished piece. The presence of handwritten color notes suggests a methodical approach to observation and recording. It also highlights the artist's engagement with the landscape, not as a picturesque scene but as a field of tonal relationships to be analyzed and translated into paint. By focusing on the materials and the artist's process, we recognize the value of this sketch, not just as a depiction of dunes, but as a record of an artist's encounter with the world.