Gate to the Riederhöfe 

Peter Becker’s pencil drawing, Gate to the Riederhöfe, presents us with a study in architectural form. The work immediately draws our attention to the stark geometry of the gate against the subtly textured stonework. The gate itself is rendered with careful lines, its archway a focal point which creates an interplay between solidity and openness. Becker uses a restricted palette, relying on delicate graphite marks to define shapes and textures, which suggests a sense of timelessness. The drawing’s composition, with its juxtaposition of the rough and the smooth, invites us to consider the fundamental elements of architectural drawing. The linear quality of the drawing and use of shading implies a certain nostalgia, invoking the ruin as both an object of beauty and a symbol of temporality. This interplay between form and concept showcases the expressive potential inherent in the most basic artistic tools.