Gezicht op de Marienkapelle in Würzburg 1740

Johann August Corvinus created this print, 'Gezicht op de Marienkapelle in Würzburg', using etching techniques. The composition immediately draws the eye to the towering Marienkapelle. Its imposing verticality contrasts with the horizontal expanse of the marketplace. Observe how Corvinus uses line and texture to define the architectural details and bustling crowd. The density of marks increases towards the foreground, creating a sense of depth and drawing us into the scene. But this also creates a tension. Our eyes struggle to reconcile the linear perspective with the surface patterns on the buildings. Consider how the interplay of light and shadow articulates the forms, but also flattens the image, moving it toward abstraction. By disrupting conventional modes of representation, Corvinus invites us to question our perception of space and reality, revealing the instability inherent in the act of seeing. The etching is not just a depiction, but a construction of visual experience.