Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal van Antwerpen 1890

Johannes Bosboom created this sketch of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp using black chalk on paper. Bosboom, a Dutch artist working in the 19th century, was known for his intimate depictions of church interiors. This drawing captures not just the architectural grandeur of the cathedral, but also evokes a sense of the everyday life that unfolds around it. Bosboom’s choice to focus on the cathedral's exterior, framed by the city's buildings and inhabited by its people, invites us to consider the intersection of religious and secular life. Bosboom came from a family of builders, and he sought to bring an architectural emphasis to painting. "I want to paint architecture in such a way that when you look at it, you feel the urge to walk inside," he said. The figures in the foreground, rendered with quick, gestural lines, emphasize the cathedral’s imposing presence. They highlight a connection to the city's inhabitants, suggesting a shared history and collective identity shaped by this monumental structure.