Aangemeerde boot aan een kade 1888 - 1889

Here we see Alexander Shilling's quick sketch of a moored boat on a quay. The rough lines and hatched shading, rendered in graphite on paper, capture a fleeting impression of a waterside scene. Shilling uses a restricted palette limited to shades of grey to define shapes and create contrast. Notice how the dynamic lines create a sense of movement, yet the detailed hatching on the boat lends it stability. The composition balances the rough, open space of the water and sky with the dense, constructed form of the boat and quayside building. This sketch operates within a structuralist framework, where each line and shadow functions as a signifier. When combined, they create a coherent representation of a boat scene. Yet, the sketch's incompleteness and ambiguity destabilize fixed meanings, inviting viewers to complete the image in their minds. The contrast between precision and open-endedness makes this more than just a simple sketch, but an exploration of how much information is needed to convey meaning.