Boomrijk landschap met veedrijver 1741 - 1803

Cornelis Brouwer created this landscape drawing with pen in gray ink around 1753, and you can find it at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing's organization is divided into three layers by the horizontal lines of the landscape and trees. A limited tonal range focuses the eye on the composition. The lack of color, combined with the composition of the scene, creates a mood both peaceful and melancholic. The shadows play a crucial role. The lines of light and shadow create a path leading the eye deeper into the composition. The composition is essentially a binary structure of the light and dark masses, which establishes a relationship between foreground, middle ground, and background. The artist shows the play of dark and light across the composition through the use of wash and pen work. This drawing's strength lies not just in its aesthetic appeal but in its formal qualities.