Kennemerpoort te Alkmaar 1862 - 1867

This is Isaac Gosschalk’s “Kennemerpoort te Alkmaar,” a pencil drawing on paper. The artist sketches architectural structures with fine, dark lines on the light surface of the paper. The choice of graphite pencil is important here. Pencil is a readily available material used for sketching and preliminary studies. Its qualities allow for quick and precise lines, and this is a perfect medium for capturing the details of the buildings. The artist's focus on architectural structures and their ornamentation suggests an interest in civic spaces. We can see the drawing process, as Gosschalk renders the textures and patterns, with cross-hatching and varied line weights. These buildings represent labor and materials - a collaborative effort that would require teams of skilled workers, from stone masons and carpenters. Considering this work through the lens of craft and labor, we can see the role of materials and making in shaping our built environment. In exploring this, the distinctions between fine art and craft begin to fade, enriching our understanding of the world around us.