Rivierlandschap met vissersboten aan steiger 1855

Johan Conrad Greive rendered this river landscape with fishing boats at a pier in graphite. The drawing is dominated by horizontal lines of the pier and water, which create a sense of calmness. The composition uses the pier as a structural element, leading the eye into the distance. The pier itself is broken and uneven, creating a sense of decay and the transience of human structures against the backdrop of nature. We see structuralism here as Greive is showing how a pier is not just a pier, but a signifier of human activity, culture, and its relation to the natural world. The lines of the boats, particularly their masts, introduce vertical counterpoints, adding a dynamic tension to the otherwise still scene. Ultimately, the sketch is not just a depiction of a scene, but also an exploration of form and structure. It questions how we perceive stability and permanence in the face of entropy. As such, Greive invites ongoing interpretation of the relationships between these visual and cultural elements.