Rij huizen bij een molen c. 1909s

Curator: This piece is titled "Rij huizen bij een molen," or "Row of houses near a mill." It’s an ink and pencil drawing on paper by Alexander Shilling, likely from around 1909. Editor: My first impression? Haunting, like a memory fading. I see the skeletal shapes of buildings huddled together beneath the looming shadow of… is that a windmill? There’s such raw energy here, yet so much is left unsaid. Curator: That incompleteness, the fleeting nature, is quite key to understanding Shilling's practice. He created this within his personal sketchbook, part of a series of what appear to be spontaneous impressions. What sociopolitical forces might have prompted this quick rendition of rural life? Was this a reflection on urbanization, the changing landscape? Editor: Perhaps! Or, maybe he just felt inspired. Look at the frenetic energy in those lines—they practically vibrate off the page. The mill becomes this watchful presence, presiding over a village holding its breath. You know, as an artist myself, I can just picture him scribbling this down, trying to capture that very specific mood… Curator: It's also important to remember who could access such forms of artistic expression. Were there marginalized communities present, how might have economic disparities and class struggles shaped such interpretations? Editor: All that aside, can we just acknowledge how beautifully unsettling it is? Like peering into someone else’s dream, or maybe a half-remembered nightmare? Curator: Absolutely. Shilling's piece makes a space for such reflections on artmaking and accessibility, offering questions and provocations. Editor: Yeah. Looking at this sketch, you just know that, despite the simple tools, he just had something that burned so strong inside him. It reminds me why I even bothered lugging all these canvases around for all those years. So, there you have it folks! Keep sketching! Curator: A worthy note for our visitors! This brief glimpse into Shilling’s sketchbook presents an exciting lens through which to consider those issues.