Steigerpoort te Leerdam 1836 - 1912

Curator: Here we have Isaac Weissenbruch’s “Steigerpoort te Leerdam,” dating roughly from 1836 to 1912. The Rijksmuseum holds this drawing created with ink and etching on paper. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the light—or rather, the strong contrast between light and shadow. It gives a certain dramatic weight to the old gate and buildings. It looks worn but somehow solid, rooted in place. Curator: Weissenbruch’s career spanned much of the 19th century. This cityscape provides a glimpse into Dutch urban life of that era, particularly the architectural styles and perhaps even the socio-economic activities happening around that gate. It gives us a sense of place within the flow of history. Editor: I am interested in the roughness of the marks and the almost hurried application of ink; there’s nothing precise here. The technique and medium speak to a kind of documentary immediacy. It suggests sketching in the field rather than laborious studio work, and there are interesting marks that seem more akin to industrial wear, showing the daily labor ingrained within the buildings. Curator: Considering the politics surrounding the preservation and portrayal of such gates in art during this time, how might this relate to the then-changing attitudes towards national heritage and urbanization? Was it trying to glorify everyday Dutch life or document the disappearance of that old way of life, to bring the social role of such spaces into a broader light? Editor: Well, the marks are definitely about something more. You’ve got texture creating tone, labor marks making up meaning, which means the medium isn’t simply translating an image but rather it’s making its own statements. Curator: True. Seeing how the scene interacts with these materials and with us allows one to reflect on our ever-changing relationship with the urban environment. Editor: Yes, a poignant observation when we consider it in the frame of changing manufacturing. Curator: I've learned something new myself from viewing the etching through your material lens. Editor: Thank you; the conversation placed the city's past in context again for me, a truly enriching observation of process and change!