Het Sint-Mariaklooster te Amsterdam, ca. 1544 1760

This is an anonymous drawing of Het Sint-Mariaklooster in Amsterdam, made around 1544. The use of line and perspective divides the composition into distinct spatial registers, creating a layered viewing experience. In the lower register, the convent is depicted at ground level, while the upper portion shows a bird's-eye view of the same location, encircled by draped fabric. The semiotic juxtaposition of the eye-level and aerial views invites a comparative reading, challenging the viewer's spatial understanding. By presenting two distinct perspectives within one frame, the drawing destabilizes the conventional, singular viewpoint. The work thus becomes not just a depiction of a place, but also an inquiry into the nature of seeing and representing space. Such representational strategies open up dialogue and establish new ways of thinking about perspective.