Gezicht op de gebouwen aan de Hofvijver, 's-Gravenhage 1659

Curator: Harmen ter Borch created this delicate cityscape, “Gezicht op de gebouwen aan de Hofvijver, ‘s-Gravenhage,” in 1659. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It looks incredibly fragile, almost like a whispered memory. The lines are so fine, like the artist was afraid to press too hard on the paper. The material, from what I can see here, seems to contribute to that ephemeral quality. Curator: It is rendered with pen and ink and perhaps some pencil on what looks to be toned paper. I wonder what The Hague represented at the time for its viewers? What story of Dutch society and status did the artist try to portray here? Editor: Focusing on its social context, I think of this drawing as documentation. Perhaps Ter Borch made it as a preliminary sketch. We see labor captured, translated into this portable medium, and consumed privately, or potentially becoming part of a larger project. Curator: I am drawn to how the artist arranged the buildings in a manner to showcase an almost dream-like interpretation of architectural symbolism. I see power in those reflections. How does the visual weight contribute to the ongoing narrative of the city as a site of government and wealth? Editor: Looking at the details in production value, I see these elegant facades. How interesting that these symbols of wealth and power were rendered with such unassuming, almost humble, materials. It is so skillfully rendered though. This little sketch feels like a secret document of the time. Curator: It's as if he captured the spirit of the city, those pen and ink strokes acting as emotional placeholders as well as architectural drawings. He leaves enough open that as a viewer you’re left with an interpretive task that has some deep roots in cultural awareness. Editor: This image makes me ponder the daily life of the artist, a constant back and forth in making artistic decisions of selection and capture. What buildings, what medium? Curator: Yes. Now, knowing the background and how both symbolism and artistry blend together has enriched my appreciation, don’t you agree? Editor: Indeed. Reflecting on this sketch has been enlightening; recognizing art’s relationship to production and place helps bridge art to our understanding of life, beyond its artistic representation.