Studieblad met schepen 1880

Louis Apol created this drawing, “Study Sheet with Ships,” using graphite on paper. The composition features four distinct sketches of sailboats, each capturing a different perspective or detail. The use of line is particularly striking; Apol employs delicate, almost hesitant lines to define the forms of the ships and sails. The texture is suggested rather than explicitly rendered, relying on subtle variations in line weight to imply depth and volume. This approach aligns with structuralist notions of art, where meaning arises from the relationships between elements rather than their individual representation. Apol's sketches highlight the formal elements of shape and line, emphasizing the semiotic system through which these forms communicate the idea of ‘ship.’ By deconstructing the sailboats into essential lines and shapes, Apol invites us to consider the underlying structure of representation itself, rather than focusing solely on the image of the boats.