Huizen in de Vinkenbuurt, Amsterdam 1885

Jan Hanau’s watercolor and pencil drawing presents the Vinkenbuurt neighborhood in Amsterdam as a study in geometric simplification. Predominantly linear, the composition balances areas defined by a light wash of color with sections left bare, emphasizing the structural forms of the houses. Hanau’s drawing is not merely representational, but analytical. We see this in the superimposition of multiple perspectives, where buildings are drawn as if viewed from different angles simultaneously. This fracturing of viewpoint reflects the cubist painters' interest in deconstructing visual space. The artist isn't just showing us buildings; he is also exploring how we perceive spatial relationships. The architectural sketches floating above the main scene aren't casual additions. They challenge fixed perspectives, suggesting that reality is a construct, assembled from multiple viewpoints. This approach anticipates later developments in post-structuralist theory. In Hanau’s subtle subversion of traditional perspective, we see not just a depiction of a place, but an early exploration into the nature of seeing itself.