Twee reisschetsen van Alicante, Spanje 1901

Jac van Looij’s sketch of Alicante in Spain is made with broad strokes that seem to capture the landscape in motion. The palette is restrained, mostly earth tones and greys, but it gives this feeling of transience, like the scene is caught between moments. Looking closer, the texture is really interesting. The paper isn't completely covered, and those visible areas give a sense of depth. The way the light hits the buildings in the foreground—it's not precise but more about the feeling of light and shadow. There's this one spot where the road is rendered as a pale stripe against the ochre ground, and it gives the whole scene its structure. It’s like a stage, and makes me want to build a story upon it. I'm reminded of Corot, who also had this knack for capturing a scene with a kind of effortless grace. Ultimately, it’s this ambiguity that makes the sketch so compelling—it feels unfinished, like the conversation is still open.