Schuiten in de haven van Volendam 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching called "Schuiten in de haven van Volendam." The image is built up through these hatched lines. And that’s how the artist captured the light. It’s all in these scratches, a real network of marks and tiny gestures. They describe the boats, the water, and even the air, which kind of vibrates. When you look closely, you can see how the artist uses different densities of lines to create the illusion of depth and texture. Like in the hull of the boat closest to us, see how he lets the lines bunch up and darken, making the wood feel solid? And then, look at the water – it’s all these flickering, broken lines that suggest movement and reflection. The artist is really thinking about the material qualities of the ink, how it can be manipulated to create different effects. I’m reminded a little of Whistler's etchings, but with a bit more grit. There's this sense of quiet observation, a real appreciation for the everyday beauty of the harbour.