Herten in een weide en herten die over boomstammen springen 1874

Here we see a page from a sketchbook by Johannes Antonius Canta, created with pen and ink. The composition, divided into three distinct registers, presents a study of deer in motion. Canta's use of line is particularly striking. In the top register, the frenetic energy of deer leaping over logs is captured with quick, gestural strokes, creating a sense of dynamism. The middle register, rendered in wash, offers a tonal contrast. Here, the deer blend into an atmospheric landscape, emphasizing form and shadow over precise detail. The bottom register returns to line, with a focus on contour and the elegant extension of the deer's limbs. Canta uses the white of the page to articulate form and amplify the sense of movement. It reveals a concern not just with representation but with the formal possibilities of the medium itself. The sketchbook format further reinforces this sense of experimentation.