Het land van Hoboken 1923

Simon Moulijn made this piece, "Het land van Hoboken," an etching, and it's all about the nuances of tone and line, isn't it? The way he builds up the image with these tiny, precise marks, it’s like he’s thinking through the landscape, one stroke at a time. Look at the long lines of the fields and the stippled trees. There's something very measured about the way it all comes together. Each little mark feels considered, and yet, when you step back, it all feels so organic and flowing. It's a dance between control and letting go. It reminds me of Whistler, that interest in atmospheric effects and subtle gradations. But Moulijn brings his own sensibility to it, a kind of earthy, grounded quality that's really appealing. There's no one right way to see it, and that's the beauty of art. It invites you to bring your own experiences and interpretations to the table.