Gezicht op de Grotemarkt te Rotterdam 1839 - 1844

Charles Rochussen created this print, “Gezicht op de Grotemarkt te Rotterdam”, using etching. The composition is structured by a contrast between the ordered architecture of the buildings and the vibrant chaos of market activity, set against a muted palette. The lines of the buildings are sharp and geometrically rigid, establishing a formal backdrop to the scene. Rochussen uses a semiotic interplay of order versus disorder. The artwork, at first glance, seems to simply represent a marketplace, but it also hints at how social structures shape everyday life. The ordered environment contrasts with the unpredictable nature of human behavior, suggesting a structured social framework. The lines and spaces within the architecture serve as boundaries, defining how people interact within the city's public sphere. The buildings are therefore, not just physical structures, but also represent social constructs.