St. Nicolaashofje Antwerpen 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this monochromatic work on paper, St. Nicolaashofje Antwerpen, using what looks like graphite or ink. I imagine de Vries standing on the street, squinting, trying to capture the essence of this little corner in Antwerp. The artist’s marks are quick and descriptive. It feels like I’m watching him make the work; each stroke building into a complex scene with a vanishing point leading the eye to a single dark doorway. What was de Vries thinking about as he made this? He seems focused on the architectural details, like the positioning of the windows, or the angle of the rooftops. The overall effect is charming. There’s a cart in the center, perhaps a worker left it there while off on their lunch break? I think about the way all artists learn from one another, each trying to represent their own experience of being in the world.