Begraafplaats ten zuiden van Jogyakarta op Java 1899 - 1913

This etching, made by Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp in 1913, presents a Javanese cemetery south of Jogyakarta, a landscape rendered through a dense network of etched lines. Nieuwenkamp’s mark-making feels exploratory, almost like a form of meditation, recording the textures of this place. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the density of the lines varies, creating depth and shadow. The thatched roof of the building in the center is a fantastic example of this. Each stroke feels deliberate, carefully placed to build up the form. You can almost feel the rough texture of the straw. The entire composition is built from the smallest marks, which accumulate into something larger and more complex. I’m reminded of the etchings of Hercules Segers. Both artists share a similar appreciation for the possibilities of the etched line and the ways in which it can evoke a sense of atmosphere and place. Art isn’t just about what we see; it’s about how we feel.