Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Johan Antonie de Jonge made this beach scene, possibly with Queen Wilhelmina, in Scheveningen using pencil, or maybe charcoal, on paper. It’s all about the gesture, right? A quick shorthand to capture a fleeting moment, a feeling. I love the way De Jonge’s marks are so economical, but they still manage to convey the essence of the scene. Look at the boats, just a few lines, but you get the idea of their shapes, the sails catching the wind. And the figures, almost like scribbles, yet they’re there, present on the beach. There is a real sense of movement, of the breeze, of the sea air. That looping line, just there in the bottom right, what is that? It’s so playful, so ambiguous. Is it the wind? The Queen’s head? Who knows! This piece reminds me a bit of some of Manet's quick sketches – that same emphasis on capturing the impression, rather than the detail. Ultimately, it’s a great reminder that art doesn’t always have to be about perfection. It can be about capturing a feeling, a moment, an idea.
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