Landschap met bomen langs een hek 1848 - 1888

Editor: We’re looking at "Landschap met bomen langs een hek," or Landscape with Trees Along a Fence, an 1848-1888 work by Anton Mauve, housed at the Rijksmuseum. The materials seem to be graphite and watercolor on toned paper. It feels very immediate and intimate, like a glimpse into the artist's sketchbook. What do you see in this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: Indeed. What immediately strikes me is the emphasis on line. Notice how Mauve uses primarily linear strokes to define form, eschewing a dependence on shading or chiaroscuro. The varying density and direction of these lines create texture and suggest depth, particularly in the depiction of the trees and the fence. Editor: It is interesting how simple the rendering is of the figure standing to the side. Curator: Precisely. The figure, barely articulated, is rendered subservient to the linear scheme of the fence itself, and contributes a geometric anchor that sets into relief the organic density of the foliage behind it. It functions as a hinge connecting horizontal, central field and the gestural elements beyond. Consider too the way the limited palette contributes to the overall impression of unity and constraint. Editor: I see how the lines interact and almost vibrate on the page, a stark and lonely depiction. It looks simple, but now I recognize how carefully orchestrated these seemingly simple marks must have been. Thanks for your thoughts. Curator: A stimulating observation. Reflect on how even "incomplete" lines engage one another to yield something quite moving.