De Kloveniersdoele 1872

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this drawing of ‘De Kloveniersdoele’ with pen in 1841. Immediately, the facade’s geometrical articulation impresses upon us. The orderly, rectangular structure of the building is sharply rendered in cool light, with the tonal contrasts precisely defining each stone and window. This precision, however, is destabilized by the artist’s hand; the lines, while suggesting rigid forms, betray a looseness. Look at the way the light gently fades in areas, softening the edges of the architecture and inviting contemplation. Bendorp plays with the tension between objectivity and the subjective experience of viewing. The calculated portrayal of form meets an atmospheric effect which transcends pure documentation. The drawing thereby transcends its subject, becoming a meditation on light, form, and the very act of seeing. It prompts us to consider how we perceive structure in a state of flux.