Gezicht op een straat in Harderwijk Possibly 1863 - 1867

This graphite drawing, titled 'Gezicht op een straat in Harderwijk', was created by Cornelis Springer. As an artist, Springer occupied a unique position in the rapidly modernizing Netherlands of the 19th century. He focused on the depiction of urban life, often romanticizing Dutch cities and townscapes. Yet, this drawing offers a stark look at the laboring class and their environment. Note how the buildings are rendered with quick, almost clinical lines, and the presence of the working man's cart. What kind of relationship did he have to his subject? Was he attempting to capture a disappearing way of life, or was he celebrating the resilience of the working class? This candid snapshot invites us to consider the narratives we construct around progress and whose stories are often left untold.