Console aan de zijkant van het stadhuis van Haarlem 1867

This graphite drawing by Isaac Gosschalk presents a study of architectural details found on the side of Haarlem's Stadhuis, or city hall. Executed with precise linework, the composition is divided into two studies of sculptural features, each exploring form and structure. On the left, the artist illustrates a section of the building's facade, with a focus on the console—a structural bracket designed to support an overhanging element. Gosschalk accentuates the play of light and shadow to emphasize the decorative volutes and geometric forms. To the right, a wrought-iron detail is meticulously rendered, revealing a pattern of stylized foliage, its symmetry precisely replicated. The drawings are not merely documentary, they suggest a deeper engagement with the architectural language. Gosschalk seems to be working within a semiotic system, using the visual components to construct a broader narrative about Haarlem’s civic identity. This approach challenges a fixed view, inviting an ongoing interpretation of how architectural elements contribute to cultural meaning.