Huis in een boomrijk landschap 1885 - 1931

This is Willem Bastiaan Tholen’s sketch of a ‘House in a wooded landscape’. Observe how the composition is dominated by the charcoal strokes, layered densely to create an almost palpable sense of depth and texture. Tholen masterfully employs the diagonal hatching technique, building up areas of dark and light that suggest the forms of trees, foliage and the hidden house. The lines, though simple, are dynamic; they contour and shape the scene with an economy that speaks volumes. Note how the vertical strokes at the lower left contrast with the horizontal strokes above, creating an interesting tension. The sketch's beauty lies in its structural clarity, a formal quality that emphasizes the artist's close observation and translation of nature into a study of light and form. Through the careful arrangement of lines, Tholen encourages us to consider the underlying structures of perception and representation in landscape art.