Landschap met water en een kerk 1910 - 1917

This landscape with water and a church by Alexander Shilling presents us with a study in duality, captured with graphite on paper. The composition is immediately bisected by the spine of what appears to be a sketchbook, compelling us to consider each side as distinct yet related entities. On the left, a lighter, almost ethereal rendering of architectural forms emerges, while on the right, the lines are bolder, the contrasts sharper, suggesting a landscape in firmer resolution. This contrast isn't just visual; it destabilizes our perception of space and form. Is it two views? Or one landscape caught in shifting perspectives? Shilling plays with the semiotic relationship between the sketch and the scene, between perception and representation. The division challenges the unity of the landscape, inviting contemplation on how we piece together our understanding of the world. This mirroring effect not only enriches our visual experience but also prompts a deeper consideration of how we construct meaning from fragments.