Trapgevel 1863 - 1868

Editor: This is "Trapgevel," a drawing by Isaac Gosschalk from between 1863 and 1868. It’s made with pencil, ink, and watercolor on paper and it almost feels like architectural sketches combined with almost imaginary designs...What captures your attention when you look at this work? Curator: You know, it's funny, but it reminds me a bit of wandering through Amsterdam, letting your gaze just bounce off the intricate facades. Gosschalk's captured that wonderfully in this piece. There's something incredibly appealing about the precision and detail he puts into rendering architectural elements; like the fancy scrolls sitting so pretty. Are those little sculptures above each window? Editor: They do look like small decorative figures! Is there anything in particular that suggests these designs might not be... entirely real? Curator: It's hard to tell for certain, but look how meticulously he’s rendered one façade style but with some variation between the elements in the work. The rendering here blends real observation with artistic fantasy, which creates an imagined, rather dreamy urban space. Maybe it represents Gosschalk's wish for the city? Almost like a city planners rendering? Editor: That’s a very interesting angle. How do you think this cityscape would relate to an art student from that time? Curator: Well, think of it – they would learn from architectural drawings, they were almost necessary to be proficient as an artist and I imagine that he meant for the design to be practical as well as eye-catching. These could have been their inspiration for future pieces. It all sort of marries skill with imagination, really. Editor: So it seems Gosschalk balanced both accurate representation and creative dreaming here. Curator: Exactly! This artwork is a really clever combination. Something academic with room for creative expression and freedom. It makes you wonder what the backstory is here, you know? Editor: Definitely! Thanks, that's given me a lot to think about.