Boerderij 1913

This print of a farmhouse was made by Gottfried van Pelt sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Look at how he’s used line to build up tone, using denser, more chaotic marks for shadow and form. I imagine van Pelt, outside, on a grey day, squinting to see the details of the brick and the thatched roof. I wonder if he was shivering, trying to capture the scene before the light changed too much. This work reminds me of the landscapes of Hercules Segers, with its delicate lines and tonal complexity. It captures a quiet moment, a slice of rural life, like a memory fading at the edges. The stark tree next to the farmhouse adds to the feeling of melancholy. Artists build on what they have learned from others, and this print makes me think about how different forms of art influence the way we see and experience the world.