Vaart tussen bomen 1908

Jan Toorop made this pastel drawing, *Vaart tussen bomen*, with colored chalk on paper. It's a symphony of gentle, almost tentative marks, isn't it? Look how the strokes build up the scene. I imagine Toorop, standing there, chalk in hand, letting the image emerge through layers of color. The palette is muted, mostly yellows, greens, and just a touch of orange. It’s as if the artist is trying to capture the fleeting light filtering through the trees, transforming it into something solid and tangible. And those little figures in the background, under those hats, who are they? It reminds me of other artists working at the time like Klimt, using color and line to explore the inner world as much as the outer one. It’s like they’re all in conversation. Artists are always looking at each other, borrowing, stealing, and transforming ideas. Ultimately, painting is a form of embodied expression. There are so many different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world!