Gezicht op een rivier met aanlegsteigers en boten 1880 - 1932

Emil Orlik made this drawing of a river view with jetties and boats using etching, a printmaking technique that's all about process. I love the way the hatching marks conjure the reflections in the water. Looking at the image, I’m thinking about how the artist’s hand moved to create the marks. You can see the lines used to describe the boats, the dock, and the figure on the jetty; they’re not trying to trick you into thinking they are real, instead, they are real lines, making a real image. The economy of line gives the work a breezy feel. For me, there’s a connection to be made here with Whistler, who was making etchings of a similar subject matter. Both artists explore the capacity of line to communicate depth and volume. They offer a space for reflection on how we see, perceive, and find meaning in the world around us.