Landscape 1902

Maxime Maufra made this landscape drawing in 1912. The scene is built up through layers of brown pencil strokes against the peachy paper. I imagine Maufra outside, maybe it's a bit chilly, and he's quickly and deftly trying to capture the scene. The bare trees crowd the composition and act as pillars, framing a distant view of a village nestled among rolling hills. The dark marks build into a thicket of branches— the artist scratches and scores the page, building up tone and texture. In the foreground, a low fence marks the boundary between the viewer's space and the landscape beyond. The fence is crooked, like a smile, beckoning us to enter. I wonder, what was it like to stand there, in that very spot, over a century ago? Maufra was a contemporary of the Impressionists, and, like them, he found inspiration in the natural world. It’s nice to see his particular take on it. I bet he was inspired by all the mark-making going on in the work of Van Gogh. Artists are always riffing off each other and responding. This landscape drawing invites us to reflect on our own relationship with nature, and on the enduring power of art to connect us across time.