Gezicht op de stadswal en Sonnenborgh te Utrecht 1773 - 1792

Hendrik Spilman created this print of the city wall and Sonnenborgh in Utrecht using etching. The composition balances a detailed depiction of the urban landscape with open, airy spaces in the sky. The formal structure—lines, shading—evokes a sense of depth and distance, drawing the eye along the canal and towards the horizon. The use of line in this work is particularly striking. Spilman employs fine, precise lines to delineate the architectural details of the city wall and the Sonnenborgh tower. Notice how these structured, man-made forms contrast with the softer, more organic lines used to depict the trees and foliage. This contrast might represent the tension between the natural world and the constructed environment. The print invites us to consider how the artist mediates between objective representation and subjective interpretation. Spilman's etching is not merely a record of a place but an artistic construction that reflects cultural and philosophical concerns about landscape, architecture, and the human place within them.