Gezicht op de toren van de Sint-Nicolaaskerk te Elburg Possibly 1863 - 1867

Editor: Here we have Cornelis Springer’s “Gezicht op de toren van de Sint-Nicolaaskerk te Elburg,” probably from the mid-1860s. It’s a pencil drawing on paper, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The sketch feels incredibly immediate, like a visual note jotted down. What stands out to you most about it? Curator: It’s interesting, isn’t it? This glimpse, caught like a fleeting thought. To me, it speaks of seeing. Springer isn't presenting us with a finished, polished architectural portrait. Rather, it's more like a whisper, a moment of focused attention. I wonder, what might have drawn him to fixate on that tower, that particular day? Editor: Do you think it has something to do with that angle? It feels slightly off-kilter. Curator: Exactly! That slightly awkward angle makes it feel intensely personal, almost voyeuristic. We’re seeing what he chose to see, not what some grand commission demanded. It reminds us that even something as seemingly solid as a church tower is ultimately perceived subjectively, refracted through an individual lens. It's also amazing that something so simple, just paper and pencil, can carry so much. Do you agree? Editor: I definitely see what you mean about the subjective experience now. It's not just a depiction; it’s an impression. Curator: Precisely! And I love how that transforms something potentially dry – architectural study – into something vibrant and alive. Springer makes us feel like we are standing there with him, experiencing that precise moment. We forget about style or form; the drawing becomes simply an echo of that moment in time, perceived and preserved. A little bit magic, really. Editor: That’s given me a whole new perspective on appreciating these kinds of preliminary works. Curator: I am pleased to hear it! Keep that perspective as you experience all the art around you.