Daken met schoorstenen 1822 - 1893

This is Willem Troost's watercolor, "Roofs with Chimneys," housed in the Rijksmuseum. The work presents a fragmented, almost Cubist-like view of urban architecture. Troost’s exploration of form is striking. Notice how he reduces the buildings to geometric shapes, emphasizing lines and planes. The colors—muted browns, blues, and grays—create a somber yet cohesive atmosphere. The varying opacities in the layers of paint suggests depth while maintaining a flat picture plane, challenging traditional perspective. Troost destabilizes our perception of space, inviting a reconsideration of how we perceive and represent the world around us. The sketch reflects a broader artistic interest in deconstructing and reassembling visual reality. Consider how each brushstroke functions as a sign, contributing to a semiotic system where buildings are no longer mere representations but constructions of color and form. The artwork remains a dynamic site for interpreting the interplay between representation and abstraction.