Kerktoren c. 1909s

Alexander Shilling made this sketch of a church tower, or “Kerktoren” as the title suggests, in what looks like a travel sketchbook. It's a double-page spread, the left filled with what appear to be the loose, light studies of windmill structures; the right, a more determined sketch of the church tower, rendered in denser marks. I wonder if Shilling made these drawings in one sitting, or whether they were composed over time, as sketches often are. I can imagine him, sitting with his sketchbook, perhaps a little frustrated with the windmills, so he turns the page for a fresh start. In this new composition, the church tower emerges with more clarity and definition, capturing its architectural details and verticality. It's as if the act of turning the page allowed Shilling to refine his focus and intention. Like many artists, Shilling uses sketching as a tool for inquiry, a means of exploring the world through the act of drawing.