Tenten met luifels c. 1828 - 1897

This pencil drawing of ‘Tenten met luifels’ or ‘Tents with Awnings’ was created by Adrianus Eversen, who was born in 1818. Eversen, who focused on cities and townscapes, came of age in a period of significant urban development. This sketch offers a glimpse into the culture of leisure and commerce in the 19th century. Tents, often associated with nomadic life, take on a different character here. They suggest the temporary nature of trade, of merchants setting up shop in bustling urban centers. The awnings hint at a space of display, of goods for sale, and the social interactions that unfold beneath them. This is a society on the move, one where economic opportunities and social mobility are increasingly possible. Consider how the sketch captures a moment in time. The choice of tents as subject matter may reflect a society grappling with the changing landscape of urban life and the rise of a commercial class. Eversen presents an alternative narrative to the grand narratives of state and empire. What do you think about how the sketch translates into contemporary society?