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Human in the LoopJonathan Harrell’s Commonplace Book

Why does a beautiful sketch accord greater pleasure than a beautiful painting? Because it has more life and fewer forms... Perhaps we find sketches so attractive only because, being somewhat indeterminate, they allow more liberty to our imagination.... Denis Diderot

A rustic ink sketch of a house on a hill surrounded by trees. The house has a wooden, weathered appearance, with a small footpath leading up to it. The scene is detailed yet stylized with a sense of old-world charm.
Landscape with a House by a Lake, by Matthijs Bril
A soft, monochrome drawing of a rocky, mountainous landscape. Lightly textured with gentle shadows and delicate vegetation, the scene feels peaceful and atmospheric.
Study of River and Rocks, by Cornelis van Poelenburch
A shaded, intricate drawing of a rocky cave entrance framed by trees and foliage. Light filters through the cave, highlighting delicate plants and stones, giving the scene an organic, naturalistic feel.
View from Neptune’s Grotto in Tivoli, attributed to Johannes Jansz Collaert
A detailed landscape sketch of a serene riverside scene. A person stands fishing from a dock under large, overhanging trees, with small boats visible in the water and a distant estate or castle in the background.
View of the River Vecht, with Fishermen, Pollarded Willows, and a Boathouse on the Opposite Bank, by Abraham Rutgers
A dramatic ink drawing showing an angelic figure descending from the sky, with beams of light streaming downwards. Below, a person appears to be lying on the ground, dwarfed by the mountainous landscape and stormy clouds above.
Jacob’s Dream, by John Constable, after Aert de Gelder
A textured sketch of a solitary figure walking away, seen from behind. The figure wears a cloak and a hat, with the surroundings shaded in dense crosshatching, creating a dark, contemplative atmosphere.
A Man Walking Seen from Behind, by Georges Seurat