Kippenhok in een tuin in Voorburg 1914

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching, Kippenhok in een tuin in Voorburg, using fine lines to create a little world of textures. It’s all in monochrome, which really makes you focus on the contrasts. Have a close look at how Grondhout uses these lines to describe the light as it hits the brickwork of the building, and the way the little outhouse in the garden almost disappears into shadow. The diagonal marks that make up the rickety roof are so different from the firm vertical lines on the side of the outhouse; that’s where the magic is. There’s a really appealing contrast between the sharp lines of the architecture and the softer, scribbly marks used for the foliage. It feels like Grondhout really wanted to get into the nitty gritty of the contrast between what’s made by humans and what grows freely. This reminds me of Piranesi’s architectural prints, but with a domestic, intimate twist.