Stadsgezicht 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen made this pencil drawing titled ‘Stadsgezicht’, or ‘Cityscape’, sometime during the 19th century. Eversen was known for his detailed cityscapes, often romanticizing urban life. This sketch, though, feels different, more like a fleeting glimpse. Consider the era in which Eversen lived and worked: the Netherlands in the 1800s was undergoing significant social and economic changes. The detailed realism evokes a sense of place, but the lack of distinct features also speaks to a universal experience of urban life, where individuals navigate shared spaces. What stories do we tell ourselves about the people who occupy these spaces? How might their experiences differ based on gender, class, or social standing? The emotional resonance of this drawing lies in its ability to make us reflect on the relationship between the individual and the urban environment. It invites us to consider whose stories are told and whose are erased in the making of urban history.