Lijst met 20 bezienswaardigheden en straten in Utrecht 1834 - 1906

This is Maria Vos's "List of 20 sights and streets in Utrecht," a pencil and graphite drawing. The materials are humble – paper and graphite – and the technique is straightforward draftsmanship. The drawing shows a dedication to the act of seeing and recording. It’s not just a rendering of Utrecht, but a reflection on the artist’s experience of the city. The list to the left acts almost as a table of contents, a systematic approach to capturing the urban landscape. Vos likely walked the streets herself, notebook in hand, making quick sketches and jotting down observations. This brings the drawing close to the sphere of everyday life and labor. The act of observing and recording, almost like a form of urban exploration, transforms the mundane into a subject worthy of artistic attention. It is precisely this unpretentious quality that makes the work so compelling. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the act of seeing, recording, and engaging with the world around us.