Gezicht op de Grote Kerk en het Oude Stadhuis aan de Markt te Vlaardingen 1744 - 1775

This is Jan Caspar Philips’s rendering of the Grote Kerk and the Old Town Hall in Vlaardingen, made using etching. The composition is immediately striking: the church dominates the foreground, its architectural mass rendered with precision. Philips uses line to create structure and depth, drawing the eye into the town square. The etching technique allows for a detailed depiction of the buildings, capturing the texture of the brick and stone. Here we see the application of perspective: a clear understanding of depth and space, which gives the image its sense of realism. But look closer and we see this is more than a simple record. Philips creates a dialogue between the imposing church and the bustling town square, suggesting the interplay between religious and civic life. The subtle tonal variations add to this, creating a visual harmony that invites contemplation. Notice how Philips destabilizes the traditional hierarchy in landscape art, focusing not on nature but on the constructed environment. This is a subtle commentary on the evolving values of the time.