Bomen en een molen aan het water 1907

This drawing, Bomen en een molen aan het water, was made with pencil by Alexander Shilling. I like how the dense hatching creates a sense of depth and volume, particularly in the trees. It reminds me that artmaking is a process of building up layers, whether it's paint or pencil marks. Look at the tree on the right, a hulking, looming form. The artist uses these short, choppy lines to build up the mass of the tree, but it's also kind of a mess, right? There's a tension between the representation of a natural form and the abstract quality of the marks themselves. This tension is what keeps me engaged; it's not just about rendering a scene, but about the act of drawing itself. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, an exchange of ideas and techniques across time. I'm reminded of Guston's late work, but this is much earlier, of course. There's a similar commitment to ambiguity and multiple interpretations.