Portaal van de Grote of Sint-Stevenskerk in Nijmegen 1909

Editor: Here we have "Portal of the Great or St. Stephen's Church in Nijmegen," a 1909 woodcut on paper by W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp. The stark contrast of the print gives it a dramatic feel, like something out of a gothic novel. It also has this beautiful balance of organic and geometric shapes. What draws your eye in this piece? Curator: Oh, this print vibrates with such a particular mood. I can almost feel the cobblestones under my feet, hear the faint echo of footsteps under that imposing arch. The way Nieuwenkamp renders the stone, it’s not just visual—it’s tactile, you know? As if the very essence of the church has been captured and somehow distilled into ink on paper. Don't you get the urge to run your fingers across the page? I find myself wondering, was Nieuwenkamp drawn to the spiritual heart of the city? Editor: Definitely. There is something solid and enduring but with almost an otherworldly feel too. You feel the human scale in relation to the monumental building, the gothic influence in that gorgeous arch. So how did art nouveau and themes of cityscapes become intertwined here? Curator: Ah, it’s that tension, isn't it? Art Nouveau was all about embracing the modern, finding beauty in the everyday, but here we have this solid anchor to the past looming so very large. Nieuwenkamp seems to be suggesting a negotiation between these ideas. What I think makes it really click is how the landscape isn’t only visually present but has these geometric shapes that draw on this idea of visual balance. Editor: I never considered that, the negotiation between modernity and tradition. Looking at it again, it certainly highlights the complexities of urban life at the turn of the century. Curator: Exactly! It’s a print that keeps giving, wouldn't you agree?