Binnenpoort te Culemborg 1849 - 1895

This is Willem Koekkoek's "Binnenpoort te Culemborg", a drawing made with pen in ink. The sketch on the left page presents a dense weave of architectural forms. Lines intersect to depict buildings, windows and intricate details of what appears to be an old city gate. The lack of shading flattens the space, emphasizing the composition of lines themselves. The facing page is deliberately left empty, a blank canvas that contrasts with the intricacy of the architectural sketch. This deliberate juxtaposition invites us to consider the role of absence in art. The sketch is not just about the architectural structures it depicts, but also the act of seeing and interpreting space. The skeletal nature of the drawing style shows the architecture through line, and the negative space around the architecture enhances our attention. The blank page then encourages the viewer to reflect on the boundaries of representation and interpretation, recognizing that meaning is created through both presence and absence.