Stadsgezicht met achtergevels 1938

This city scene by Mia Bake feels like a quiet moment captured in monochrome. It's as if the artist is inviting us to reflect on the process of artmaking itself, one careful mark at a time. The buildings are built up through a series of linear marks which give the piece texture, while the light feels luminous, almost glowing, against the darker tones of the buildings around it. This isn't just a depiction of a place; it's an emotional landscape, where the artist's hand is visible in every line. It reminds me of the prints of Whistler, how he also used mark-making to evoke a mood, a feeling of quiet contemplation, offering a glimpse into his personal experience of a place, embracing imperfection and intuition. Ultimately, Bake's print isn't about definitive answers, but about sparking our own sense of wonder and imagination, and understanding that art is an ongoing conversation.