Landschap 1909

This landscape by Johan Antonie de Jonge is made with charcoal on paper. It's all about the surface, a flurry of marks that feels more like a memory than a real place. I love how the charcoal is layered, rubbed, and dragged, creating a range of grays that suggest depth and atmosphere. It’s so direct and honest, like the artist was right there, feeling the wind and the light. It reminds me of those quick sketches artists do to capture a fleeting moment. Look at how the artist renders the trees and bushes with these short, scribbled lines! They're not trying to be perfect, but rather to capture the essence of the landscape with an immediacy that feels incredibly alive. De Jonge reminds me a little of Corot, who had the same love of quiet observation. Both artists show us that art isn’t about perfect representation, but about feeling and seeing the world in a new way.