Gezicht op een rivier met aanlegsteigers en boten 1880 - 1932

Emil Orlik made this print of a river with boats, its exact date is unknown, but it probably took quite a bit of planning. I like to imagine him there by the water, watching the boats, figuring out how to capture that moment. There are various faint lines that must have been tricky to make. The textures are so subtle, and there’s a ghostly, quiet feel about the whole thing. It's like the scene is captured in a whisper. You know, when I'm working, it's all about experimenting, and that can be tough. I wonder if Orlik felt that too, trying to get the lines just right, capturing the light on the water. It’s like he’s having a dialogue with the old masters, nodding to their techniques but also doing his own thing. Artists are always looking back and pushing forward, riffing off each other. It's this ongoing conversation that keeps art alive.