Twee muzikanten 1899 - 1952

Johan van Hell made this image, "Twee muzikanten," using graphic media. The muted palette and soft mark-making give the impression of something remembered rather than seen. It looks almost like rubbing, a quiet, thoughtful process. I am immediately drawn to the texture; the tonal variation in the musicians' coats is achieved by building up tiny marks. It is a subtle and beautiful thing to do, like a Seurat painting, but more understated. The figures are not facing us, drawing us into this memory or moment. The whole image has a fragile feeling; it reminds me a little of the work of Philip Guston, particularly in the density of marks made with what looks like a very dry brush, creating something both figurative and highly abstract. Ultimately, an image like this reminds us that art is as much about what is left unsaid as what is explicitly shown.