Loenen aan de Vecht, over het water gezien 1872 - 1944

Frans Smissaert made this work, Loenen aan de Vecht, over het water gezien, with chalk or pastel on paper. Look at how Smissaert uses chalk – soft and blended, not sharp – to create a sense of a hazy, overcast day. It’s like he’s capturing a feeling, a mood, more than a precise scene. I love the way the colors are muted, almost greyed out. It’s not about bright, happy colors, but about atmosphere. Notice the water, how it reflects the sky, making the whole scene feel unified, almost dreamlike. The strokes are gentle, like he’s caressing the paper. It’s clear Smissaert is more interested in the overall impression than in the details. This piece reminds me a bit of Corot, who was also great at capturing the poetry of a landscape with simple means. Both artists seem to understand that art isn’t just about representation, it’s about feeling and seeing the world in a new light. And maybe it’s this open, ambiguous quality that keeps us coming back for another look.