Gezicht op Côm Al-Akhdar 1890 - 1930

Philip Zilcken made this etching, Gezicht op Côm Al-Akhdar, at an unknown date. The sandy, dusty tones are achieved through finely scratched lines. It gives the scene a desolate and mysterious quality, like a mirage shimmering in the desert heat. I imagine Zilcken, squinting in the bright sun, carefully rendering each line, each shadow. What was he thinking as he etched those palm trees, those crumbling walls? Did he feel a sense of wonder, or perhaps a touch of melancholy? The way the light catches the buildings suggests both resilience and fragility. The lines feel deliberate, each mark contributing to the overall atmosphere. Painters are in conversation, always. Zilcken's vision of Egypt makes me think of other artists—maybe some of the orientalists. Each artist brings their own perspective, their own way of seeing. And that's the beauty of art, right? It’s not about definitive answers, but about opening up possibilities, inviting us to see the world in new and unexpected ways.