Bolwerk te Vlissingen 1860 - 1921

Adolf le Comte made this pencil drawing of the Bolwerk in Vlissingen. Le Comte was the son of a well-known architect, also named Adolf le Comte, and followed in his father's footsteps designing mostly decorations for buildings and ornamental gardens. In this sketch, the artist uses line to describe the simple geometric forms of this fortification. The building is set against a blank sky, and its looming presence evokes the town's history as a strategic point of defense. The location of Vlissingen on the Westerschelde, the only access route to the port of Antwerp, has determined its history. For centuries, control of the town meant control of a vital trade route, thus heavily influencing the cultural and economic landscape of the region. Although rendered with precision, there’s a softness in its execution suggesting that the artist wasn’t only interested in historical accuracy, but also in capturing a feeling, a sense of place. The artwork is a memory of the past and an imagining of a future.