Oosterwijk Castle from a distance c. 1646 - 1647

Roelant Roghman created 'Oosterwijk Castle from a distance' using pen and brown ink with grey wash. The sketch is structured by contrasting dark washes in the foreground with lighter tones in the distance to draw your eye into the composition, guiding you along the road towards the castle. Roghman orchestrates a delicate interplay between nature and architecture. The use of line and wash articulate a vision of space and depth. The lines define shapes, while the washes add volume. By manipulating tone, Roghman creates an atmospheric perspective, an illusion of depth on a flat surface. The artist utilizes the semiotic structure of light and shadow to create a sense of depth. Consider how the linear perspective and tonal gradations function as codes, inviting the viewer to engage in a dialogue with the artwork's representation of space. This formal approach invites us to ponder the interplay between representation and reality.