Gezicht op de spoorbrug over de Donau bij Ulm c. 1869

Cornelis Springer rendered this cityscape of Ulm with graphite on paper. Springer’s landscapes are characterized by a romantic and idealized view of the Dutch urban environment. He was working during a period of great change, as industrialization and urbanization were transforming European society. While the rise of industrial infrastructure reshaped the landscape, it also brought about new social divisions. Springer, coming from a family of builders, often portrayed urban scenes with architectural accuracy, but at the same time he avoided representing the negative aspects of industrialization, and, in that sense, he maintained traditional representations. This drawing invites us to consider how our own experiences and histories shape our perceptions of place and progress.