Ridders met man in landschap before 1841

Charles Rochussen created this drawing, "Ridders met man in landschap", sometime in the 19th century. The pencil on paper reveals a study of knights amidst a landscape, fragmented and layered in its composition. The stark contrast between the detailed central scene and the sketch-like figures around it creates a sense of unease. Rochussen's deliberate arrangement destabilizes traditional landscape art, where depth and perspective create harmonious scenes. Instead, we're confronted with zones of activity, each vignette a separate narrative thread. The central, densely worked area focuses on an intense struggle, which contrasts starkly against the ethereal, ghost-like sketches of figures at the sides. Rochussen invites us to question the stability of meaning itself. The artwork functions not just as a visual experience but as a philosophical inquiry, prompting us to reconsider how we perceive the world.