De Gedempte Burgwal te 's-Gravenhage 1842 - 1879

Marinus van Raden made this watercolor painting of Gedempte Burgwal in The Hague. Watercolor demands a balance of control and spontaneity; the artist must master the flow of pigment on paper. Van Raden’s skillful handling of the medium allows for a precise rendering of architectural details, seen in the building’s brickwork and window frames. But look closely and you can also see how it can evoke the soft, diffused light of a cloudy day. The social context of this work speaks to the rise of urbanism and the burgeoning middle class in the 19th century. The painting captures a moment in the daily life of the city, with figures engaged in commerce and leisurely activities. The amount of labor that went into constructing the city itself— the laying of cobblestones, the building of houses, and the maintenance of public spaces— is subtly present. By considering the materials and processes, we gain a deeper appreciation for the painting as a cultural artifact, blurring the lines between art and social history.