Straat langs de Sint-Martinuskerk te Woudrichem 1849 - 1895

This is Willem Koekkoek's sketch of the street along the Sint-Martinuskerk in Woudrichem, done in pencil. The pale grey paper supports his delicate lines, capturing a scene where the architectural solidity of buildings meets the softer lines of nature. The sketch feels very immediate, as if Koekkoek were capturing a fleeting moment. Look at how the composition divides the scene vertically, positioning the church against a backdrop of buildings. The contrast between the organic forms of the trees and the geometric shapes of the architecture suggests a dialogue between nature and man-made structures, a common theme in Dutch art of this period. We can consider the semiotics of architectural representation. Buildings here are not just physical structures; they are signs of cultural stability and order. Notice the light touch of the pencil, where lines are suggestive rather than definitive, which invites us to participate in the act of seeing. This sketch is an invitation to reflect on the interplay between permanence and transience in our surroundings.