Figuur op een holle weg 1869 - 1937

Anton L. Koster made this small etching, Figuur op een holle weg, by incising lines into a metal plate, probably sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The whole thing is made up of these tiny, scratchy marks, like he’s building the image out of pure energy. See how the lines follow the form of the trees and the road, but they also have this nervous, vibrating quality? It’s like the whole scene is alive, buzzing with potential. I especially love the way he renders the sky with these horizontal strokes, suggesting a sense of vastness and depth, and how he uses the white of the paper to create highlights and contrast, especially on the road, emphasizing the depth of the hollow way. I think Koster reminds me a little of the earlier landscape work of Camille Pissarro in his ability to bring dynamism and movement to a scene. There’s a real feeling of spontaneity and freedom here, embracing the unexpected and inviting us to do the same.