Gezicht op een toren c. 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen created this graphite drawing titled "Gezicht op een toren," or "View of a Tower." The page is split into two distinct visual fields that propose a disjunction between objective reality and subjective experience. The upper portion presents us with a cityscape, in the form of a rough sketch of architectural elements, and the bottom section is dominated by abstract forms and shapes. Eversen’s approach appears to deconstruct traditional representation by juxtaposing recognizable forms with abstract gestures. This layout prompts questions about the nature of perception and representation. How do we reconcile the objective world with subjective interpretation? The upper cityscape gives way to the seemingly free-form abstraction. The contrast between the representational and the abstract highlights the limitations of each approach. Neither can fully capture the essence of the subject. By destabilizing the divide between representation and abstraction, Eversen suggests that meaning is not inherent but emerges through a process of negotiation.