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

Piet Verhaert made this etching of rooftops and a church steeple. The low vantage point provides a view of the ordinary, a perspective not often seen in grand history paintings displayed in the Salons, or official art exhibitions. During Verhaert's time, the art world was increasingly divided between traditionalists and those seeking new ways of seeing and representing the world. Etchings like this offered artists a medium for exploring everyday life, often with a focus on urban environments. This print, with its attention to the texture of the rooftops and the subtle gradations of light, aligns with the Realist movement, a school that often challenged the established academic norms. It also demonstrates an appreciation for the unassuming beauty of the industrial age. To fully appreciate Verhaert's work, one might look into the prints and urban landscapes produced in the Netherlands and other European cities.