Boerderijen 1907

Alexander Shilling made this pencil drawing of farmhouses sometime in his lifetime, we’re not exactly sure when. What strikes me is the beautiful simplicity of the drawing, like a study in tone, using graphite to explore the rustic forms. Look at the way the graphite is layered, creating a sense of depth and texture. The roof of the central building is especially interesting, a patchwork of lines that somehow manage to convey the rough texture of thatch. This area is particularly exciting for me, because I can imagine Shilling’s hand moving across the paper, building up the tone stroke by stroke. The softness of the graphite makes the scene feel gentle, quiet, almost melancholic. It reminds me a little of some of Van Gogh’s drawings, particularly in the way he used line to build form and create a sense of atmosphere, though Shilling has a lighter touch. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art is about seeing, feeling, and translating those experiences onto paper.