Boerenschuur en hooiberg 1887 - 1952

Chris van der Windt made this etching of a barn and haystack in, I imagine, a flurry of energy with concentrated marks. Look how they build up, intersect, and break apart. I wonder what it was like for van der Windt to make this. Was he outside in the cold, or did he rely on sketches done in warmer months? I like to imagine him outside, squinting, trying to capture the essence of this old structure. The lines make me think of the work of other artists like Hercules Seghers. Consider the physicality of the mark-making. I can see the careful hatching and cross-hatching, how they create texture and depth. Look at how the marks around the trees suggest a feeling of density. See how a single stroke communicates a feeling of intention? Artists are constantly building on each other's ideas, aren't they? Ultimately, this work is an invitation to slow down and think about how marks build worlds.