Gezicht op Kasteel Streversdorp, in Montzen 1890 - 1930

Philip Zilcken made this print of Gezicht op Kasteel Streversdorp in Montzen, using etching techniques. It's all about the details here, tiny lines creating a world out of what seems like very little. The magic is in how Zilcken uses these marks. See how the texture of the castle walls is built up from a mass of tiny etched lines. They give the stone weight and form. Then there's the way he suggests the foliage around the castle. Loose, almost scribbled lines, evoke a sense of wildness. It is this contrast between the solid architecture and the free-flowing nature that gives the piece such charm. It reminds me a little of Whistler's etchings of Venice. Both artists are masters of suggestion, inviting us to fill in the blanks and complete the image in our minds. They remind us that art isn't just about what you see, but about how you see it.