Gezicht op het stadsslot van Berlijn aan de pleinzijde 1688 - 1698

This is Jan van Call's rendering of the Berlin City Palace, made around the late 17th century using pen and watercolor. Enclosed within a circle, the image conveys a panoramic view of the palace and its surroundings. The composition hinges on the stark contrast between the architectural precision of the palace on the left and the open, airy expanse of the plaza to the right. Call’s manipulation of perspective subtly flattens the depth of field, drawing our attention to the surface, and emphasizing the artwork as a constructed image. Notice how the architectural elements are delineated with careful linework, juxtaposed against the fluid washes of color in the sky and ground. This interplay between line and color might be interpreted through the lens of semiotics, where the palace symbolizes power and order, while the open space suggests possibility. Yet, the flattening of perspective challenges traditional notions of depth, hinting at a destabilization of established hierarchies. This tension between representation and abstraction invites us to question the very nature of perception.