Gezicht op de gracht te Hasselt Possibly 1861

This is Cornelis Springer's "Gezicht op de gracht te Hasselt," a drawing held at the Rijksmuseum. The composition is immediately striking. Springer uses a subtle graphite to construct a townscape where the architectural facades and canal converge, leading the eye deep into the scene. The buildings, rendered with precise lines, display a structured rhythm, their gabled roofs echoing each other. This creates a sense of order, yet the slight variations prevent monotony. The canal, acting as a mirror, doubles this structured world, inviting reflection on the nature of representation. The drawing’s formal clarity also provokes a dialogue with the picturesque. The light and shadow play across the surfaces, animating the scene, which softens the rigid lines of the buildings. This contrast suggests a tension between the ideal and the real. Springer captures the essence of Hasselt. Its structural integrity invites us to see the beauty in its geometric forms.