Antwerp 1929

Muirhead Bone made this watercolor and graphite drawing, Antwerp. Look at the muted tones, delicate washes, and fine lines. It’s a dance between control and chance, where the artist seems to be coaxing the scene into existence, one delicate layer at a time. I imagine him standing there, perhaps on a chilly morning, squinting at the light as he tries to capture the essence of the harbor. You know, the way the water reflects the sky and the boats bob gently in the foreground. There’s a quietness to it, a sense of observation and contemplation. That steamboat on the right, for instance – it's not just a boat, it's a moment frozen in time, a whisper of the industrial age. He's probably thinking about Whistler while he's doing it. We all are!