Rijtjeshuizen 1923

Alexander Shilling made this drawing, ‘Rijtjeshuizen’, with graphite on paper. I love the simple directness and clarity of the lines in this drawing of terraced houses. Shilling seems to be capturing something fleeting, like the play of light and shadow on the buildings, or the feeling of a specific moment in time. You can imagine him quickly trying to catch that very instant! I wonder what Shilling was thinking about as he drew these houses? Maybe he was interested in the architecture, or perhaps he was drawn to the way the light reflected off the surfaces. Maybe he was just trying to capture a sense of place, a feeling of home. The simplicity makes it so evocative. It reminds me of the work of other artists who were interested in capturing everyday scenes, like Edward Hopper. It's like Shilling is inviting us to see the beauty in the ordinary. He reminds us to appreciate the simple things around us.