Straat met figuren te Londen 1849 - 1895

Willem Koekkoek made this pencil drawing titled 'Street with figures in London', though we don't know exactly when. The sketch gives us a glimpse into 19th-century London street life, focusing on the architecture and the figures populating the space. Koekkoek was from a family of well-known painters, and here, you can see him working in a tradition of landscape and cityscape art that was popular at the time. London was the heart of the British Empire, a global center of trade, finance and industry but also a place with stark social inequalities. The architecture shows a specific class and order and the figures scattered around give life to the street, suggesting a bustling environment. The spire in the background is a reminder of the importance of religion during this time. To understand this drawing further, we could look into 19th-century London's urban development, social conditions, and the art market. By doing this we can start to understand the drawing not just as a picture, but as a historical document.