Stadsgezicht met de Notre-Dame 1620 - 1677

Curator: Here we have Adam Perelle's "Stadsgezicht met de Notre-Dame," dating roughly between 1620 and 1677. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's such a busy scene! The sheer density of figures along the riverbank is striking. There is so much detail here. Curator: Indeed. Perelle has employed etching and engraving on paper to construct this bustling cityscape. Look closely at how the different activities and social classes are depicted on the lower left, juxtaposed against the backgrounded grandeur of the Notre Dame Cathedral. It prompts reflection on the very economic engines that would fund its construction. Editor: Note the skillful manipulation of line to create depth, from the densely worked foreground figures to the more ethereal depiction of the cathedral and clouds, an emphasis of the light as it shapes and defines form. Curator: Absolutely. The printmaking medium allows for dissemination and consumption on a mass scale, moving this imagery away from a one-of-a-kind high art context and enabling its entry into domestic spaces and educational settings. Also notice all of the workers transporting goods - it is an intense amount of labor represented here. Editor: Yet the uniformity of the etching also seems to impose a certain order upon that activity, harmonizing it, in a way, into a pleasing composition. Even the reflections in the water, though choppy, contribute to the overall symmetry of the buildings above. Curator: Symmetry imposed perhaps by those with the means of production dictating that their legacy remain organized through the lens of commerce and trade. Consider, too, that prints were often colored by workshop artisans, and the impact that would have had. Editor: The stark contrast of the black lines on the white paper definitely emphasizes the formal elegance and architectural elements. A beautiful contrast of scale and space. Curator: It’s compelling how this cityscape reminds us of the materiality of city building. Editor: A reminder that form is content.