Boerderij bij een zandheuvel 1670 - 1677

Anthonie van Borssom created this drawing, Boerderij bij een zandheuvel, with pen in brown ink and brush in grey ink. Notice how the composition is structured around contrasting forms. The angular, sharp lines of the farmhouse are set against the soft, rounded shapes of the trees and sand dune. Borssom masterfully uses wash to create depth and shadow, giving the scene a sense of atmospheric perspective. The limited palette of browns and greys enhances the rustic, rural feel, evoking a quiet, contemplative mood. Borssom, influenced by the artistic conventions of his time, uses these formal elements to create a scene that is both realistic and idealized. The placement of the farmhouse, slightly off-center, adds a dynamic tension to the composition, preventing it from feeling static. This understated approach challenges traditional notions of landscape painting, inviting a more intimate and personal engagement with the natural world.