Berg en Dal - 02-05-23

Returning to Cubist Styling

This graphite pencil drawing ‘Berg en Dal – 02-05-23’ is a welcome change from 9 consecutive impressionist landscapes I made. Somehow I felt attracted to do a cubist one, remembering some oldies from the past. Actually I always thought Filosofendal (Valley of the Philosophers) – 20-10-15 was a good one. However, I didn’t get much response to it at that time but I matched my ambitions back then. Naturally, I was in the midst of my cubist discoveries and a lot happened since then. My roundism revolution evolved throughout the years and I made a lot of surrealist art works. Anyway, you never know how the wind will blow. So I let myself carry away on whatever wind as whim may blow. Tomorrow winds can change.

A Well-Known Place

Strangely this drawing resembles my last one a bit with regard to the lighting. I was quite happy with the tonal rhythym in that one. Consequently I felt inclined to do another one but more styled. Being a bit bored of landscapes around me I dug into my pile of reference pictures and found this smashing one of Berg en Dal. It’s a place not far away from where I was born and raised. In fact I know it rather well, situated in the hills to the east of Nijmegen. Of couse I made a whole series in the past. Once in a while I return there to dwell in its forest and hills. Quite ridicilous for foreigners, I guess. Elevation differences are really not that extreme, a mere 120 meters but that’s a lot in The Netherlands.

The Actual Spot

The actual spot where this picture was taken is very near to the one I based an earler pastel on. That was ‘Berg en Dal 01 (2014)’. I think I might have taken it on the samel path called ‘Wyler’. The view as depicted here is directed in the length of the path. Winding downhill it leads to the village of Beek and offers some nice vistas in between. The challenge was to keep track of the path lingering downwards through all the trunks,leafs and branches. Therefor I only indicated them in the back rudimentarily. No details. I kept those for the front. Some suggestions of pebbles and leaves.

Epilogue

Last but not least, I dedicate this drawing to my niece Carla Akkers who remains in the last days of her life on earth. I got the call from her sister Mieke finishing this drawing. Much too young to leave I take comfort in the thought she must have known this beautiful place as well. It’s near to where she was also born. May the play of light and dark through leaves in nature accompany you to the other side.

Graphite pencil drawing (Sakura 0.5 mm, 4B) on Winsor & Newton Bristol board paper (21 x 14.8 x 0.1 cm – A5 format)