Gezicht op een stadspoort met toren 1843

Cornelis Springer made this view of a city gate with tower using pen in brown and black ink. Springer, born in 1817, lived during a period of significant urban development and social change. Springer specialized in cityscapes, a popular genre among the Dutch middle class, who took pride in their national identity and urban achievements. His cityscapes were often idealized, presenting a nostalgic view of Dutch cities. This drawing depicts not just buildings and streets but also people. These figures animate the scene, and we can speculate on their lives and the social dynamics of the time. The city gate stands as a physical boundary, but also as a symbolic one. What does it mean to be inside or outside the city walls? Who has access, and who is excluded? Springer's drawing invites us to consider the stories embedded in the urban landscape and the experiences of those who inhabit it.