Akkerland te Damme 1923

Alexander Shilling made this drawing, Akkerland te Damme, at an unknown date with graphite on paper. The dark lines sketch out a ploughed field meeting a horizon, with trees on the right and a figure in the centre-left. It’s just a few lines, but look how much he conveys. I can imagine Shilling outside, quickly capturing the scene before the light changes, and trying to make his mark. I think you can tell he enjoyed using that graphite stick. See how the strokes vary? Some are dark and sure, others are light and tentative, searching for the right form. Look at the horizontal lines of the furrows and the vertical marks of the trees, a kind of rhythmic movement. It reminds me of drawings by Van Gogh, that same interest in the everyday and the rural landscape. Artists are always in conversation with one another, building on what came before, trying something new. Ultimately, drawings like this invite us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of a simple scene.