Rand van de Grote Hagen (onderdeel zijkant) 1675

Christiaan Hagen created this print of 'Rand van de Grote Hagen', or 'Edge of the Great Hedge', from an unknown date with etching technique. The work presents a view of a church rendered with remarkable precision, dominated by the building's large scale and formal geometry. Notice how Hagen employs linear perspective to guide the viewer’s eye from the foreground figures towards the towering church. The building itself is structured around a series of vertical and horizontal lines, emphasizing the monumentality and symmetry typical of religious architecture. The contrast between light and shadow, achieved through fine etching lines, articulates the texture of the stone and brick, giving depth to the façade. Hagen uses a semiotic system of architectural and natural forms. The church represents spiritual order, while the surrounding landscape, dotted with human figures, suggests a secular world in relation to this order. The composition challenges the viewer to consider the relationship between the sacred and the everyday. Hagen’s detailed rendering invites us to reflect on the structures that define our physical and conceptual landscapes, acknowledging the ongoing dialogue between art, architecture, and cultural values.