Akkerland te Damme 1923

Alexander Shilling made this drawing of Akkerland te Damme in pencil. You know, it’s funny, because with just a few lines, Shilling makes you feel the flatness of the land, and the figure walking in the distance. I think about how drawing is really all about a process of figuring things out. Look at how the pencil marks are layered to create texture. It is not about blending, but more about a visual and material language. Notice how the weight of the line varies. Look at those hatched marks on the right, giving a sense of depth without filling everything in. It reminds me a bit of the way Van Gogh used to work, always finding ways to capture the energy of a place with simple materials. Ultimately, it’s like Shilling is reminding us that art isn’t about perfect representation, but about how we see and feel the world around us.