Gezicht op landschap met rivier 1905

Simon Moulijn made this landscape view with a river, probably in the early 20th century, using etching or engraving. The amazing thing about a drawing like this, or a print really, is that it's all about process. It's about going slow, working through it, mark by mark. Looking at the etched lines that define the trees on the left, the way they build up, darker and darker – you can almost feel Moulijn there, digging in. And yet, it's not just about description. There's a real poetry in the way the marks create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The river winds away into the distance, and you feel like you could just step right into the scene. Maybe it’s a bit like Whistler’s Thames etchings, or even some of those old Dutch landscape masters. What's great is that he’s not trying to hide the work, or fool you into thinking this is reality. It’s all about the conversation between the artist, the tool, and the plate, creating something new.