Duinlandschap Possibly 1908

Alexander Shilling made this drawing of a Dune Landscape with graphite on paper, though we don't know exactly when. It's incredible how Shilling renders this whole scene with just a few, simple marks. Notice the horizontal lines of the sky which contrast with the diagonal marks of the dunes below. These marks really give a sense of volume and undulation to the landscape. There's no fussiness here, just a direct and honest approach. The real magic lies in the texture. The subtle gradations of tone, achieved through varying the pressure of the graphite, create a feeling of depth and atmosphere. Look at the dark, dense area on the right, with its tight hatching, and how it contrasts with the lighter, more open areas in the foreground. It’s almost like Shilling is inviting us to wander into the scene. This reminds me a little of some of Guston's looser landscapes, a kind of shorthand that leaves space for the viewer to fill in the gaps. Ultimately, it's not about what we see, but how we see it, and Shilling gives us a fresh way to imagine the world.