Gezicht op Nijmegen, 1702 1702

Martinus Berkenboom's 1702 rendition of "Gezicht op Nijmegen" is rendered with delicate lines in ink and watercolor to create a panoramic view. A vast landscape unfolds, meticulously divided into a grid, stretching towards the urban skyline of Nijmegen. The composition employs a high vantage point, creating a sense of ordered space. The fields are depicted as geometric shapes, reflecting a structured approach to land and perspective. The road leads the viewer’s eye towards the city, illustrating connectivity and commerce. The artist contrasts organic and geometric forms – fields and buildings versus the irregular sky. Berkenboom destabilizes traditional landscape art. It functions as both a representation and documentation of land, reflecting broader philosophical concerns of control, utility and early urban planning. This artwork is not just a view, but a structured interpretation of space and social order.