Gezicht op Sluis vanaf de kleine Pas 1740

Jan Caspar Philips created this detailed view of Sluis from the Kleine Pas using etching techniques during the 18th century. The composition is structured by a strong horizontal emphasis, dividing the scene into distinct layers: a detailed foreground, the middle ground with the waterways, and the sky. The etching's monochromatic palette enhances its textural richness, achieved through meticulous cross-hatching that defines forms and atmospheric effects. Philips uses the etching medium to explore the relationship between precise detail and broader environmental representation. The geometric structure of the fortifications in the foreground contrasts with the fluid depiction of the sky and water, highlighting a tension between human order and natural dynamism. This play with structure and fluidity destabilizes a straightforward reading of landscape, inviting contemplation on how we perceive and interact with our environment.