Gezicht op de stadsmuur van Leiden 1651 - 1652

Jan de Bisschop rendered this drawing of Leiden’s city wall with pen in brown ink and brush in brown wash. The use of a monochromatic palette reduces the scene to essential forms, emphasizing light and shadow. Note how the composition is structured by horizontal bands: the solid mass of the city wall, the reflecting water, and the sky above. This division provides a sense of depth, drawing the eye from the detailed foreground to the more vaguely defined background elements. The linear quality of the pen work gives the architecture a sense of precision, yet the wash softens these lines, creating an atmosphere of tranquility. De Bisschop's concentration on architectural form invites us to consider the wall not just as a physical barrier, but as a representation of civic identity and order. The interplay between line and wash, form and light, allows the drawing to function beyond a mere depiction, engaging with ideas about space, structure, and the nature of representation itself.