Gezicht op daken met een schoorsteen, op de achtergrond een kerk 1862 - 1908

Piet Verhaert composed this drawing of rooftops with graphite. Note the atmospheric perspective, where forms fade into the distance. The rooftops are depicted with short, energetic lines. The composition is structured by their geometric forms and arranged to guide the viewer's eye towards the church, which is softened by hatching marks. Verhaert uses the linear perspective to create a sense of depth within the limited space. He draws upon the semiotic notion that architecture can symbolize stability and order. The church in the background may also represent the traditional values of society. The drawing’s formal qualities, such as the restricted tonal range, and its emphasis on line, converge to create a visually unified and emotionally evocative portrayal. The work invites us to contemplate the interplay between the individual and the collective, challenging our understanding of the relationship between form, function, and representation.