Landschap met water 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls created this landscape with water using black chalk, exploring a scene dominated by the interplay of light and shadow. The composition appears almost monochromatic, with varying densities of chalk strokes defining the forms. Notice how Israëls uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tonal values, creating depth and texture. The darker areas, massed with intense marks, suggest solidity and weight, while lighter, sketchier strokes evoke a sense of airiness and movement. The horizontal orientation of the drawing and the dominant, broken horizon line divide the composition into distinct zones, each contributing to the overall atmospheric effect. This formal arrangement is not merely descriptive; it embodies a psychological landscape. The lack of sharp detail and the prevalence of tonal ambiguity may challenge the traditional representational values. Instead, it invites viewers to contemplate the subjective experience of landscape. It uses the formal properties of the medium itself to explore the shifting and unstable nature of perception.