Berglandschap c. 1901 - 1927

Johan Antonie de Jonge rendered this landscape with charcoal, a medium that perfectly captures the scene's stark, almost barren quality. The drawing's composition is dominated by vertical lines, which delineate the rugged forms of the mountains. De Jonge's marks create a dense, textured surface, evoking the rough materiality of rock and earth. Notice how the artist varies the pressure of the charcoal to create areas of light and shadow. This use of chiaroscuro not only models the forms but also imbues the scene with a sense of drama and depth. The deliberate, almost structural application of charcoal, particularly in the foreground, hints at a fascination with the underlying architecture of the natural world. The drawing can be seen as a study in contrasts – between light and dark, solid and void – reflecting a broader artistic concern with the dialectical relationships that structure our perception of reality. The tension between representation and abstraction invites us to consider the ways in which art shapes our understanding of nature.