Poort met balkon 1772 - 1779

Editor: Here we have Jean Pelletier’s "Poort met balkon," or "Gateway with Balcony," created sometime between 1772 and 1779. It's a print – an engraving – on paper. There's a stillness to it, almost mathematical in its precision. What do you make of this drawing? Curator: It whispers to me of grand designs and the architect's careful hand, you know? There's this longing for perfect symmetry, for order imposed upon the world, which just screams Neoclassicism, right? It’s almost theatrical, this stage set of a doorway. Do you get a sense of a real space, or something more… symbolic? Editor: More symbolic, I think. It feels like a portal to… well, something idealized. It's not exactly inviting, but it is impressive. It lacks that lived-in feeling. It looks... sterile. Curator: Exactly. It's a plan, an aspiration, not a reality. Look at how Pelletier uses line, it is all about form, delineating a space with clarity and precision. One can almost imagine that the artist dreamed of monumental gateways. It seems cold now, but for his time, he might have believed that sterile form could reflect morality! It's about communicating status through architectural elements. I like thinking about all those dreamers thinking it meant power, safety, status, success! What does that balcony suggest to you? Editor: Hmm. A space for observing, for projecting… authority, maybe? I definitely see your point about this being more about aspiration than utility. Curator: Precisely! The gateway itself becomes an instrument. Something for us to be conscious about its aesthetic value, too. These straight lines are saying something about humanity, a perfectibility through art. I like this door's clean slate. Editor: It's fascinating to think about this gateway as a reflection of social values at the time, you’ve provided much food for thought! Curator: Indeed! There's more to be gained here from the form of things to say what might hide behind them.