Dorpsstraat 1923

Editor: This is Alexander Shilling's "Dorpsstraat" from 1923. It appears to be a pencil and ink drawing. It feels very raw, like a quick study of a street. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, this sketch really emphasizes the relationship between artistic labor and representation. Shilling uses very basic materials – pencil, ink, and paper – to depict what I assume is an ordinary Dutch street scene. Look at how the rudimentary tools available constrain the final form and create geometric forms. Editor: So, it's about how Shilling's choices about media are central to how we understand the piece? Curator: Precisely. And also, consider the *act* of sketching. It’s quick, efficient. This speaks to the artist’s role as a kind of… recorder or reporter. Editor: Interesting. So, the simplicity of the materials influences the artistic expression and what it reflects of the city? Curator: Absolutely. We can even speculate about the economics of art-making at the time – did readily available, inexpensive materials democratize art production in some way? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding the art's socio-economic context! Thank you! Curator: Of course! Thinking about the materiality and process always adds new layers to our understanding of any artwork.