Stadsgezicht met een kerk c. 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen made this sketch of a cityscape with graphite on paper in the 19th century. The choice of graphite suggests a deliberate act of paring down. A pencil sketch is the most economical way to depict a scene – rapid, portable, and requiring minimal tools. The artist’s hand moves quickly across the paper to record the barest essentials of the buildings and church. The inherent qualities of graphite – its gray tonality and capacity for subtle shading – lend a sense of immediacy and authenticity to the image. Eversen captures the essential forms of the architecture with a minimum of fuss. The very act of sketching, with its inherent potential for revision, is a process of distillation. Looking at this sketch, we see a deliberate choice of materials, and economy of means. Eversen invites us to see the urban landscape stripped bare, unadorned. In so doing, he challenges traditional notions of artistry, suggesting that even the simplest materials can convey profound insights into the world around us.