Hooiwagens voor een boerderij 1913 - 1917

Alexander Shilling made this drawing of wagons filled with hay near a farm, probably in situ, with what looks like graphite on paper. I can almost feel the artist quickly sketching, trying to capture the essence of the scene, right there and then. The lines are so economic, like quick breaths, trying to capture the rural scene's mood with just the barest minimum of marks. I wonder if Shilling labored over this sketch, erasing and redrawing, or if he let the marks flow freely from his hand. It reminds me of the drawings of Van Gogh, artists who have that incredible capacity to see the world as energy and movement. Looking at his other works, I see a clear interest in landscapes and rural scenes. He's clearly interested in the ordinary, everyday moments of life. The immediacy of the sketch feels like he's trying to freeze a moment in time, which, as an artist, I can really relate to! I also love the fact that there is a date on the image 'Jul 25/13', like a page in a diary. I can see it inspiring me; maybe it will inspire you too!