Kustgezicht c. 1920

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this charcoal drawing, Kustgezicht, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. What strikes me is how the marks seem to describe an overwhelming scene without actually describing anything. The surface of the paper is completely covered in these wild, nervous marks; horizontal, diagonal, scribbled. The drawing is monochromatic, of course, so it’s all about the contrast, the areas where the charcoal is built up, thick and dark, and the areas where the paper still shines through. There’s no empty space, it's a kind of all-over composition. It feels restless, like the artist was trying to capture a fleeting moment or a feeling more than an actual place. I’m reminded of some of James Ensor’s drawings; there’s a similar energy in the mark-making, and both artists seem more interested in mood and atmosphere than in precise representation. Ultimately, what I appreciate about this drawing is that it doesn't give you all the answers, and instead invites you to participate in the act of seeing.