St. Nicolaashofje Antwerpen 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this drawing of St. Nicolaashofje in Antwerp with what looks like brown ink on paper. It is a classic street view, but with some interesting quirks in the perspective that I find charming. There’s something raw and immediate about the sketchy lines of this drawing, especially in the facades of the buildings on either side, which are rendered with a wonderful sense of texture. The way the lines vary in weight and intensity gives the impression of light and shadow playing across the surface, creating a lively and dynamic composition. Look at the way the artist captures the angle of the street and the recession into space, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. This piece reminds me a little of the work of Saul Steinberg, someone else who was so good at distilling the world into a few lines.