Gezicht op de Nijl met zeilboten 1890 - 1930

Philip Zilcken made this print, "View of the Nile with sailboats," with etching. You can see the image emerge line by line. I can imagine Zilcken carefully guiding the etching needle across the plate to capture the reflection of the buildings on the still surface of the water. Did he make this 'en plein air'? Or in the studio? The surface is almost uniformly gray with the barest hint of pale yellow and pale brown. It's this limited palette that creates the tranquility of the artwork. The details of the buildings and boats are rendered with delicate precision, showcasing Zilcken's mastery of the etching technique. The image reminds me of Whistler's atmospheric etchings, where light and shadow play a central role in evoking mood and atmosphere. Ultimately, works like this remind us that painting is a means of understanding and interpreting the world around us. Each mark, each line, tells a story of an artist’s encounter with their subject, inviting us to join in their exploration.