Studie van maaswerk c. 1828 - 1897

This is a pencil drawing of tracery, or ‘Maaswerk’ as the title tells us, by the Dutch artist Adrianus Eversen, who was active throughout the 19th century. Eversen, better known for his cityscapes, here directs his attention to the architectural details of Gothic Revival buildings. In the 19th century, the Gothic style became associated with civic pride and Christian values. Churches, town halls, and even private residences sported pointed arches and elaborate window designs that evoked the medieval past. Eversen’s drawing captures this revival, and the association of architecture with cultural identity. As historians, we can use archival sources, architectural surveys, and period writings to understand how the Gothic Revival shaped the urban landscape of the Netherlands, and how artists like Eversen participated in shaping it. This drawing reminds us that art is always embedded in broader social, cultural, and institutional contexts.