Gebouw met een toren 1820 - 1896

This is Kasparus Karsen's 'Gebouw met een toren', made with pen in brown ink and brush in grey. Karsen's choice of medium invites us to think about the relationship between architectural representation and the physical act of building. Brown ink meticulously outlines the structure, while grey wash fills in the details, lending the building weight and volume. But this isn't just a neutral depiction. The graphic quality of the lines and the tonal variations of the grey wash add a subjective dimension to the representation, a contrast to the industrial revolution. Consider the relationship between the artistic labor involved in creating this drawing and the physical labor involved in constructing the building itself. Karsen's drawing is a testament to the enduring allure of traditional craftsmanship in an era defined by mass production. This work invites us to appreciate the tactile, sensory qualities of both the built environment and the artistic process that brings it to life on paper.