Gezicht op de Gedenknaald in Scheveningen 1850 - 1875

This is an anonymous rendering of the ‘Gezicht op de Gedenknaald in Scheveningen.’ The print is a study in the interplay between verticality and recession. An obelisk stands proud of the horizon, dominating the composition. The linear quality of the monument draws the eye upwards, and the surrounding figures appear to exist to emphasise the monumental vertical thrust. Note that the print employs the language of perspective and proportion that was prominent at the time. The receding lines of the landscape lead towards the sea, mirroring the shape of the obelisk. The entire image is framed by an octagon, drawing our attention to the print’s constructed nature. Does this deliberate framing serve to question notions of what is inside or outside the artwork? And does this questioning invite us to expand our interpretation?