Gezicht op kasteel Hovorst c. 1827 - 1829

Jean-Baptiste Madou created this graphite drawing, *Gezicht op kasteel Hovorst*, which translates to *View of Hovorst Castle*. The tranquil scene is meticulously crafted using graphite, a medium that allows for subtle gradations of light and shadow, rendering a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Madou's composition is structured by horizontal layers: the placid water in the foreground, the manicured grounds, and the solid architecture of the castle. The light, coming from the left, casts long shadows, accentuating the texture of the trees and the castle's facade, while the subdued palette evokes a sense of nostalgia. The drawing exemplifies a tension between the natural and the constructed, characteristic of 19th-century Romanticism. The castle, with its symmetrical design, signifies order, yet it is softened by the surrounding foliage and the delicate reflections in the water. This interplay invites us to consider how our constructed spaces interact with the environment.