Drie afgemeerde schepen op een strand 1928

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this drawing of three boats on a beach with pencil. What strikes me is how he creates so much space, and light, with such a simple tool. It makes me think about the power of suggestion in art. Look at the details of the marks he makes. The lines suggesting waves in the water, for instance, are so light, so delicate. And then compare them to the bolder, darker strokes defining the rocks in the foreground. Schelfhout really knew how to vary the pressure and tone of his pencil to create depth and texture. The way the clouds are rendered is especially fascinating. They're not just filled in, but created with repeated, almost rhythmic strokes that give them a sense of movement. It reminds me a bit of the cloud studies of Constable. Both artists share a deep interest in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. I am left to wonder how they made you feel and what thoughts did this work conjure within you?