Reiswagen en koets before 1864

Charles Rochussen created this print, "Reiswagen en koets," using etching and aquatint. Look at how the composition is structured around two distinct clusters of figures and vehicles, each framed by the architecture on either side. The monochromatic palette allows a close reading of the interplay between light and shadow, revealing the texture of the buildings and the intricate details of the figures' clothing. The formal arrangement here isn't just descriptive; it actively constructs a narrative about transit and transaction. Rochussen uses a semiotic system of signs to denote social class and economic activity. The carriages represent a certain level of mobility and commerce, while the gathering of figures signifies a community engaged in the everyday rituals of exchange. Notice the formal contrast between the static architecture and the dynamic crowd. This contrast destabilizes fixed meanings and values to reveal how public spaces are constantly negotiated and reconfigured by those who inhabit them.