Huizen aan een gracht te Oudewater 1820 - 1896

Kasparus Karsen made this pencil drawing of houses along a canal in Oudewater sometime in the 19th century. The strokes are light, almost tentative, building up a network of lines that gradually define the architecture. What’s fascinating is that Karsen chose such an unassuming medium to capture this scene. Pencil on paper is about as straightforward as it gets. There’s no pretense here, no attempt to wow us with virtuosity. The drawing emphasizes the basic labor involved in observing and recording the world around us. It’s a democratic medium, accessible to anyone willing to put in the time. In its own way, this modest drawing challenges traditional notions of what constitutes “high art.” It reminds us that even the simplest materials, when handled with care and attention, can offer profound insights into the built environment, and the lives of those who inhabit it.