Rivierlandschap met boerderij 1869 - 1941

Johannes Abraham Mondt made this river landscape with farm probably outdoors, en plein air, with watercolor. I love how the muted colors, a bit greyed-out, give it such a specific feel. You know, the way the weather can really change your mood. Looking closely, you can see how Mondt built up the image in layers, letting the paper shine through. See the way the brushstrokes in the trees kinda blend together? It's like he's capturing the essence of the scene, not every single detail. The texture's so subtle, almost like a memory. It reminds me of the Barbizon school, those painters who were all about capturing the quiet beauty of the French countryside. But what's really cool is how Mondt leaves so much open to interpretation. There’s a kind of deliberate ambiguity, like the painting is always changing depending on how you look at it. That's what keeps me coming back.