Brug bij Marga op Bali 1907

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp created this etching, titled ‘Bridge near Marga, Bali’. I love the way Nieuwenkamp used a delicate touch to suggest the lush Balinese landscape! Imagine him there, perhaps with a small portable printing press, carefully layering lines to build up the image. I think the figures on the bridge create a real sense of scale, emphasizing the grandeur of the natural surroundings. There’s a feeling of stillness, a quiet observation of the bridge as part of the landscape. The way the bridge connects the different parts of the scene reminds me of how artists connect us to different ways of seeing. Each stroke, each careful line, contributes to the overall feeling of the piece. It’s a reminder that art is often about capturing a moment, a feeling, a place, and sharing it with others.