Gezicht op de stad Astrakhan 1660 - 1685

Coenraet Decker created this print titled "View of the City of Astrakhan" around 1670, using etching on paper. At first glance, the tight lines and monochromatic tones create a highly structured and somewhat melancholic vista. The composition is rigidly organized, dividing the scene into distinct horizontal layers: from the foreground with foliage and figures, across the water filled with ships, to the city's skyline, all capped by a sky featuring banners that spell out "ASTRACAN." Decker employs a consistent, almost obsessive, linearity that defines every element, from the smallest ripple in the water to the architectural details of the city. This emphasis on line flattens the perspective, reducing depth. The floating banners in the sky add to the disorienting effect. The rigid structure emphasizes a tension between representation and abstraction. Decker’s focus on line and form over realistic depth creates a world that is both detailed and strangely unreal, inviting us to reconsider how we perceive and interpret visual information.