View of the Town of Frederiksberg from the West, with Copenhagen on the Horizon 1818 - 1828

This drawing, made by Heinrich Gustav Ferdinand Holm, captures Frederiksberg with Copenhagen in the distance. The composition is divided, with buildings framing a view of the city’s skyline. Note the trees overarching the scene, a motif resonant with the ‘screen’ or ‘window’ effect. We see it echoed through Renaissance art, a visual device that both reveals and conceals, inviting the viewer to actively engage with the layers of reality. This framing focuses our gaze and our minds. The trees create an intimate, almost voyeuristic perspective. The image evokes a yearning to both see and understand, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, reflecting our innate desire to penetrate the surface and grasp the underlying truth. A desire that has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.