Beekje in een bos before 1903

Alfred Enke's "Beekje in een bos" captures a forest scene with a monochromatic palette. You can almost see the artist experimenting with light and shadow, playing with different ways of seeing. Looking at this work, the surface quality really hits me. The tones are so subtle; it feels like Enke is almost feeling his way through the forest, gently revealing the textures of the trees and the soft flow of the water. There's this one fallen branch, leading your eye across the stream, it really emphasises the composition. It's like a bridge, both literally and metaphorically, inviting you to cross over into the depths of the forest. This piece reminds me a little of some of the early modernists, like the way they sought to capture the essence of a subject rather than just a literal representation. Ultimately, "Beekje in een bos" offers us a glimpse into the artist's exploration of form, light, and the quiet beauty of the natural world.