Schuiten in de haven van Volendam 1888 - 1934

This little etching of boats in Volendam harbor, made by Willem Adrianus Grondhout, is such a sweet example of the kind of printmaking that flourished in the Netherlands at the turn of the century. I love the way he’s used all those tiny lines to build up the image, like he’s knitting the scene together. You can almost feel him there on the docks, squinting into the light, trying to capture the feel of the water, the light reflecting, the stillness of the masts. It’s a quiet, contemplative scene. I bet Grondhout was really zoning in, feeling that peaceful vibe. When you make a print, you're never quite sure what's going to happen; you have an intention and then the medium takes over. This reminds me of some of Whistler's prints. I bet they knew each other's work. Artists are always inspiring each other, riffing on each other’s ideas. It's a conversation that goes on through time.