Huis aan een waterkant 1923

Editor: Here we have Alexander Shilling's 1923 pen drawing, "Huis aan een waterkant", which translates to "House on a Waterfront". It's so simple, just a few lines really, but it captures a whole scene. What do you make of it? Curator: Indeed, the formal elements at play here are quite fascinating. Observe the contrast created by the artist's meticulous use of hatching and cross-hatching to define form and volume, particularly in the thatched roof and the subtle undulations of the landscape. What does this strategic application of line suggest to you about the artist's intention? Editor: Well, it gives a sense of depth, I think, even though there isn't much shading. The roof looks more textured than the ground, which implies distance. It's almost like the line work *is* the shading. Curator: Precisely. The strategic deployment of line weight further accentuates this effect, drawing the eye towards the nucleus of the composition—the house itself. How does the composition affect your understanding? Editor: I think because the house is centrally located, and the strongest lines define it, it creates balance but also focus. The landscape almost fades away behind it, but still provides context, establishing it as an environment. Curator: An astute observation. Shilling masterfully uses basic compositional strategies to define this humble scene and manipulate our perception of space and depth. In essence, he reduces the world to a study of texture and contour. Editor: It’s interesting to see how much information can be conveyed with so little. I'll definitely pay closer attention to line weights going forward! Curator: And I find that your astute focus on the relationships within the pictorial space, is, indeed, most encouraging.