Omheinde boerderij 1907

Alexander Shilling made this drawing of a farmyard with graphite on paper. Imagine Shilling outside, with a sketchbook, making marks to capture the essence of what he saw! Look how the lines cross each other to create shadows and volume. See the quick, scribbled marks that make up the trees and the more deliberate lines that define the buildings. The surface seems to vibrate with energy, capturing a fleeting moment in time. I think Shilling must have been fascinated by the textures of the thatched roof, or the way the light filtered through the leaves of the trees. It’s the kind of thing that would have me whipping out a sketchbook! It reminds me of Constable’s cloud studies, and how he looked at the landscape around him. Painters are always in conversation with each other, aren’t they? We learn from the past, but we also bring our own experiences and perspectives to the table. What do you see?