Huizen aan een gracht en een man op een wagen met bloemkool 1888 - 1889

This drawing by Alexander Shilling presents us with an intimate glimpse of houses along a canal. The artist's focus on line and form captures a sense of the urban landscape. Observe how Shilling uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth, volume and shadows. The marks define the architectural forms, giving them weight and substance. Note the balance between the detailed rendering of the buildings on the right and the more open, sketch-like treatment of the scene to the left. This contrast creates a dynamic composition. The linear construction invites us to consider how Shilling's marks function not just descriptively but also as expressive elements that shape our perception of space. This emphasis on structure and form reflects a modernist concern with the essential elements of art-making, suggesting that the act of drawing itself is the subject.