Gezicht op kasteel Ghlin before 1913

This is a print of Ghlin Castle by Ch. Perrin, and the whole thing is caught up in this inky, grey space. It's almost spooky. Look at how Perrin coaxes depth out of a limited palette. He uses these tiny, etched lines to build form, like the trees on either side that frame the castle in the distance. See how the reflections in the water mimic and abstract the scene, adding another layer of complexity? It is a real study in light and shadow, isn’t it? There’s a mark, just to the right of the central tree, where Perrin has scratched a series of horizontal lines. They shimmer and distort the light, suggesting a kind of atmospheric haze. It reminds me of some of Whistler's nocturnes, or even the Barbizon school. Ultimately, though, this print feels complete in itself; a perfect little world of observation.