Guildford c. 1877

Hendrik Pieter Koekkoek made this pencil drawing titled "Guildford" at an unknown date in the 19th century. Koekkoek's traditional landscapes reflect the values of the Dutch Golden Age, but are created in a time of rapid industrialization. This small drawing has an intimate, unassuming quality. You can see the artist’s light touch in the way he rendered the scene. The buildings seem to huddle amidst the trees, as if retreating from the outside world. The marks are tentative, unsure, which adds to the sense of this place as private. The drawing is named for a town in Surrey, England. Perhaps this humble scene reflects an idea of Englishness, but from an outsider’s perspective. The drawing is small, and unpretentious, almost like a fleeting memory. Koekkoek offers a moment of respite from the clamor of the modern world.