Aquarel van Nederlandse militairen, 1831 1900 - 1918

This watercolor of Dutch soldiers was made in 1831 by an anonymous artist. You can see the artist has worked in thin washes, layering the pigment to create a sepia tone. It’s that lovely balance, or maybe tension, between spontaneity and control that gets me thinking about the whole process of art-making. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the artist uses subtle variations in tone and shading to create depth and volume in the figures and horses. The brushwork is delicate, with fine lines defining the details of the uniforms and facial features. These details give a sense of realism, a careful recording of a historical moment. I’m reminded of the work of 18th-century draftsmen like Watteau. They shared the same interest in capturing the nuances of human gesture and expression. Like Watteau, the artist isn’t so interested in perfect rendering, but in allowing a bit of chance to shape the image. For me, it’s the artist’s willingness to embrace ambiguity that makes the work so compelling.