Landschap met rietkragen aan het water 1907

Alexander Shilling likely created this pencil drawing of a waterside landscape ‘en plein air’, meaning, out in the open. The marks are rapidly made, with a minimal range of tonal values. This wasn’t done with any fancy materials, just a graphite pencil and paper; humble tools that could be readily carried on the go. We can consider this a study, a preliminary work done in preparation for a more considered painting back in the studio. What’s interesting to me is how this sketch gives us a sense of labor. Shilling had to be present in this scene, breathing the air and taking in the view, while at the same time quickly and skillfully maneuvering a pencil to capture the essence of the landscape. In the end, it’s these material qualities and acts of making that give the image its appeal. The drawing is less about the scene and more about Shilling’s perception and engagement with the world.