Schuiten in de haven van Volendam 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching of boats in Volendam harbor, but when? It is all about mark making, I mean look at those lines that make up the water, they wiggle and jiggle and feel like a party! The textures! The way the lines vary in thickness and direction to create form, it's like a conversation with the metal plate. It's all there, the rough wood of the posts, the way the water reflects light, and the solid form of the boats. See how the artist uses the etching needle to capture the essence of the harbor? Grondhout's work reminds me of James McNeill Whistler, they both had that knack for turning everyday scenes into something poetic with just a few lines. Ultimately, art is about seeing and sharing, and pieces like this show us that beauty can be found in the simplest of things.