Stadsgezicht op het Kerkplein te Hattem, met links de Grote of Andreaskerk en in het midden de Annakapel c. 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen created this pencil drawing of the Kerkplein in Hattem, likely in the mid-19th century. Eversen, known for his cityscapes, captures the architectural essence of the town square, dominated by the Grote or Andreaskerk and the Annakapel. The Netherlands in the 19th century was undergoing significant social and economic changes, and there was a growing interest in depicting everyday life and urban scenes. Eversen's choice to focus on the architecture and urban landscape reflects a broader trend in Dutch art. However, the absence of people in this drawing is striking. What does it mean to have a city square, a public space, devoid of its public? Is this a commentary on the quietude of Dutch life, a nostalgic vision of a simpler time, or is it simply a sketch awaiting its figures? Consider the role of religious buildings in shaping social life during this period. Eversen offers us a glimpse into the physical spaces that would have been central to community identity and shared experience. The drawing invites us to reflect on the intersection of architecture, religion, and society in 19th-century Netherlands.