Katwijk aan Zee 1882 - 1926

This small copper plate, Katwijk aan Zee, by Gerrit Haverkamp, shimmers with delicate tonality. The surface of the copper almost feels like the painting itself, like some kind of trial proof or a ghostly memory. I imagine Haverkamp standing on the Dutch coast, squinting to capture the subtle light on the buildings and boats. Was he out there battling the elements, or working from memory? You can feel the artist's hand in the faint lines that describe the scene. Thin, controlled scratches define the image of the buildings and sailing boats, with subtle variations in pressure creating a sense of depth. It feels like a conversation with artists like Whistler, who also explored the subtleties of tone and atmosphere. Haverkamp is working in a long tradition, part of an ongoing exchange of ideas and techniques. These types of images offer us a view of a particular place and moment but also an inquiry into the nature of seeing itself.