Ontwerp van de gevel van een stadshuis 1886 - 1896

Alexander Bleijs designed this facade of a townhouse with watercolor and pencil on paper. Painted in the late 19th century, this piece offers a glimpse into the architectural aspirations of the time, but it also hints at the deeper societal structures at play. Who gets to live in these townhouses, who are the people that are able to inhabit and move through this space? The design reflects the values of the upper class, emphasizing stability, order, and a certain kind of aesthetic grandeur. The townhouse becomes a stage for performing identity, broadcasting a message of success and belonging. The facade design, while seemingly static, embodies a silent narrative of social stratification and cultural identity. It asks us to consider not just the beauty of the structure, but also the stories it tells about those who inhabit it, and those who are excluded from its walls.