Gezicht op een gebouw met een trapgevel c. 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen made this pencil drawing of a stepped-gable building sometime in the 19th century. Eversen was particularly renowned for his cityscapes, often depicting scenes from Dutch urban life with great attention to architectural detail. This sketch gives us insight into the artistic process behind Eversen’s finished works. The stepped gable, a common architectural feature in Dutch cities, visually connects this work to a specific cultural and historical context. Eversen often integrated anecdotal elements, such as figures engaged in daily activities, into his street scenes. While this sketch lacks such elements, it highlights his interest in the built environment and its role in shaping social life. To fully understand the meaning of this work, we can explore maps, municipal archives, and period photographs, to better understand the social fabric of 19th-century Dutch cities. The historian’s role is to uncover the layers of meaning embedded in the artwork, revealing its connection to the broader social and institutional context in which it was created.