Hooioppers in een weiland c. 1909s

Alexander Shilling made this drawing of haystacks in a field with graphite on paper. The sketchbook quality of this drawing is charming, like a visual diary entry. You can almost feel the artist quickly capturing the scene before the light changes. The graphite marks are so raw and unpolished, giving the impression that this sketch was made outdoors. On the right-hand page, notice how the artist uses short, choppy lines to build up the form of the tree. The textures are alive! On the left page, you can see the hazy forms of the haystacks in the distance, sketched with softer strokes. Shilling’s work reminds me of Corot, who was a master of capturing light and atmosphere with such simple means. Art is all about this kind of conversation – how one artist sees, interprets, and then passes it on to the next.