Knotwilgen aan slootkant 1928

This etching, ‘Knotwilgen aan slootkant’, or ‘Pollard Willows by the Ditch’, was made by Simon Moulijn. You can see his signature at the bottom. The whole image is constructed from a constellation of tiny marks, like a pointillist painting, except rendered in monochrome. It’s a reminder that artworks are built, mark by mark, detail by detail. I love the way Moulijn uses texture here to suggest form, with the water built up from horizontal strokes to create a feeling of reflection. The trees in the foreground are almost anthropomorphic, looming over the viewer, the rough texture of the foliage and the trunks rendered with a flurry of chaotic marks. This piece reminds me of the work of Hercules Segers, another Dutch artist who worked with etching, exploiting the possibilities of the medium to create imaginary landscapes. Etching can seem like a very precise medium, but it is amazing how much atmosphere and drama Moulijn coaxes from it. Ultimately, what this piece communicates to me is a sense of the artist’s quiet observation and connection with nature.