Maas, Near Dort 19th-20th century

Curator: Here we have Alexander Shilling's etching "Maas, Near Dort." It’s a study of trees, seemingly bare, against a flat horizon. Editor: Instantly, it feels like winter to me. Those skeletal trees... and the monochromatic palette. Very stark. Curator: The etching technique lends itself well to that mood. The fine lines create a delicate, almost ghostly effect. Note how Shilling uses line variation to suggest depth. Editor: Yes, the foreground is much more densely worked. It almost vibrates. I find that tension between the detailed foreground and the empty sky quite compelling. It feels balanced, you know? Curator: It does. And perhaps it speaks to the cycles of nature, the dormancy before a new awakening. Shilling lived through such a changing world, maybe he was expressing that? Editor: Perhaps. It is a simple scene, yet it hints at so much more. It’s nice to slow down and really *see* it.