Potomac Round Point, Washington D.C., Sketches 1909

This is a sketch for Potomac Round Point in Washington D.C., made by D.H. Burnham & Co. with pencil and watercolor. The loose strokes and subtle washes give it a feeling of openness, like the possibilities of a city plan yet to be fully realized. The washes of yellow and green help us imagine this space not just as lines on a page, but as a real place, full of light and growth. The compass rose in the bottom left reminds me of the importance of direction and orientation, but also the idea that there are many paths we can take. Look at how the lines intersect and radiate from the center; it's a delicate dance between order and chaos. It reminds me of the work of Paul Klee, who also used simple lines and colors to create worlds that feel both familiar and dreamlike. Like a map, this drawing invites us to wander, to imagine ourselves in a space that is both planned and full of potential for unexpected encounters.