Gezicht op de Scheiberstrasze te Goslar Possibly 1867 - 1868

Here we see Jan Striening’s sketch, likely made on location, titled 'Gezicht op de Scheiberstrasze te Goslar'. The graphite lines on paper capture a street view, directing our eye along the road as it recedes into the distance. Striening's technique uses line to construct the forms of buildings on either side, giving dimension to their facades. The linear perspective employed invites us into the scene, while the softness of the graphite creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy. Notice how the artist captures light and shadow with varying pressures of the pencil, achieving depth and texture. Although representational, the sketch exhibits a formalism that draws attention to its construction, emphasizing the lines and angles that define its aesthetic. Striening offers us not just a depiction of a place, but a meditation on the act of seeing and recording.