Delftsche Poort 1885 - 1931

Frederika Henriëtte Broeksmit made this etching of the Delftsche Poort, sometime in the early 20th century, using delicate lines to capture a moment in time. It’s amazing how a few lines can evoke so much! Look at the way the artist uses the lightest touch to suggest the building’s facade, almost like a memory fading into the paper. The lines are so thin they’re barely there, yet they create depth and form. It’s as if Broeksmit is whispering secrets about the city through the etching. The sky is empty, and the lines seem to float. It reminds me of some of Whistler’s nocturnes, with their ethereal quality and dreamlike atmosphere. It’s art as conversation – a back-and-forth across time, and a reminder that art is never really finished, just passed on.