Optocht te Dordrecht op 1 april 1872 1846 - 1879

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this lithograph in 1872, depicting a parade in Dordrecht. The composition is structured into horizontal registers, each presenting a slightly different view of the procession, resembling a frieze. The formal arrangement here is interesting because it disrupts conventional perspective. Bendorp doesn’t converge lines to a single vanishing point but instead organizes the scene in a series of stacked perspectives. This choice flattens the image, emphasizing pattern and rhythm over depth. The use of line is also quite striking, as Bendorp employs fine, repetitive strokes to delineate figures, horses, and carriages. The figures are uniformly rendered, lacking individual detail, which highlights the collective aspect of the parade. This abstraction suggests a focus on the event's structured nature rather than individual experience. The neutral color palette further accentuates the formal elements, encouraging us to consider how structure and repetition can represent cultural events and shape collective memory.