Stadsgezicht c. 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen made this quick sketch, "Stadsgezicht", with graphite on paper. It's a scene that feels both immediate and distant. The lines are light, almost tentative, quickly capturing the bare bones of the city. The graphite, a humble material, has a directness that invites us into the artist's process. You can almost see Eversen's hand moving across the page, deciding what to include and what to leave out. There's a lot of work, skill, and tradition that goes into creating a drawing like this; the choice of material, the angle of the pencil, and the economy of line. The sketch provides us with a unique perspective on urban life in the 19th century. What details did Eversen consider to be relevant enough to note down on paper? From start to finish, we understand more about the place, and about the artist's view of it, through this image's form and making.