Gezicht op gebouwen c. 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen made this sketch of buildings, likely in the Netherlands, sometime in the mid-19th century. Although it is only a sketch, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the urban landscape of the time. Eversen was a painter of cityscapes, a genre which rose to prominence in the Netherlands during its Golden Age, the 17th century, as cities expanded in power and wealth. The precise and accurate rendering of buildings was a point of civic pride, demonstrating both artistic skill and an appreciation for the structures that housed increasingly complex social and economic institutions. Eversen made his career emulating this tradition, but here the sketch form provides an interesting contrast. Is it a preparatory study? Or a critique of the very idea of the finished, polished cityscape? In either case, the value of this drawing lies in the social and cultural context that it represents. We need to ask how institutions like the art market affect the kinds of images that artists produce, and how artists like Eversen responded to this influence.