Gezicht op de toren van de Parochiekerk te Dedham 1913 - 1917

Curator: I am immediately struck by how quickly this sketch was likely created. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is a page from Alexander Shilling’s sketchbook, likely dating from sometime between 1913 and 1917, titled "View of the Tower of the Parish Church at Dedham." It is an ink and pencil drawing that really gives insight into his process. Curator: It feels so intimate. The marks are so gestural. And despite its seeming casualness, there's a distinct sense of place; the architectural form is emerging within a vibrant landscape. There is life here. Editor: Well, Dedham itself was an important artistic hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly associated with landscape painting and the “plein air” approach. Shilling was part of the New English Art Club, itself in part a revolt against the Royal Academy. Sketchbooks offered artists the possibility of freedom of expression and, importantly, of experimentation away from the conventions of established schools. This also allowed the democratization of art by making sketches affordable. Curator: I like that point, as sketchbooks during that period gained prominence for challenging academic art. Shilling, through this image, subverts traditional artistic conventions and norms by situating the majestic tower within the seemingly modest context of his personal sketchbook, creating a tension. Editor: Precisely. You can also sense the artist capturing the moment and working rapidly to capture the tower set in a verdant and living world. In terms of art and activism, the work exemplifies Shilling's belief that everyday spaces, which might otherwise be regarded as irrelevant, possess aesthetic merit. Curator: That reminds me of the growing Arts and Crafts movement at the time. Editor: Exactly! It all contributes to this drawing, though seemingly slight, suggesting that we can locate art everywhere and make the common uncommon. Curator: It certainly encourages us to notice the beauty in the everyday. It highlights how much the places we inhabit shape our experience. Editor: And it inspires me to explore Dedham myself and to bring a sketchbook along the way!