Stadsgezicht 1872 - 1939

Egbert Rubertus Derk Schaap created this small pencil drawing to capture a cityscape with a series of buildings along the water. The drawing is defined by its quick, linear strokes that give a sense of immediacy and movement. The composition uses a high horizon line, compressing the sky and focusing our attention on the complex geometry of the buildings. Schaap's lines are not precise, but rather suggestive, leaving much to the imagination. We can decipher architectural forms but the drawing's strength lies in its abstraction. This approach disrupts traditional landscape art, which often prioritizes detailed representation. Schaap seems more interested in the play of light and shadow across the facades. The sketch embodies a moment, an impression. It invites us to see beyond the literal and to appreciate the structural framework of the urban landscape through the artist's expressive marks.