Schetsblad met daken 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen created this quick sketch of rooftops with black chalk on paper. The scene is rendered with an economy of line, capturing the essential forms of the buildings and structures with minimal detail. The dark chalk strokes contrast sharply against the pale paper, creating a stark, graphic quality. The composition is structured around a series of angular lines that define the roof pitches, suggesting a dynamic interplay of planes and volumes. There's a semiotic tension between the sketch's flatness and its illusion of three-dimensional space. Tholen uses hatching and shading to imply depth, yet the overall effect remains consciously two-dimensional. This work destabilizes traditional notions of representation. Tholen isn't aiming for photorealistic accuracy but instead explores the fundamental elements of form and perspective. Through this formal reduction, the sketch transcends its subject matter, becoming an exploration of line, tone, and spatial relationships. It invites us to contemplate how a few simple marks can evoke a sense of place and architectural structure.