Huizenrij 1891 - 1937

Cornelis van der Sluys made this print, Huizenrij, with ink on paper and it looks like a real study of mark making. It's fascinating how the artist uses such a limited palette to create depth and texture. I am drawn to the way the lines create form, those densely hatched areas that suggest shadow and volume, particularly on the facade of the main building. The lines aren't just descriptive; they’re expressive, they really build up the image in layers, as if the artist is discovering the scene through the very act of drawing. You can almost feel the weight of the buildings and the quiet stillness of the scene through the layering. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural prints. Both artists are fascinated with the materiality of buildings and how they shape our experience of space. But where Piranesi is grand and theatrical, van der Sluys is intimate and personal. Both artists are interested in capturing how buildings shape our perception, inviting us to see the world in new and unexpected ways.