Gezicht op de stad Sevilla 1695 - 1706

This is an anonymous view of the city of Seville, now held in the Rijksmuseum. Its delicate lines and muted colors give the whole scene a dreamlike quality. The composition is neatly divided into three horizontal layers: the foreground with its everyday bustle, the river with boats busily sailing, and finally, the city itself, stretching across the horizon. The formal structure here relies on contrasts. Note how the soft, organic shapes of the clouds mirror the more rigid, geometric forms of the city’s architecture, creating a visual echo that balances the composition. This use of pictorial space invites contemplation on the relationship between nature and the urban landscape. In its design, the overall effect is to create a tension between representation and abstraction. The image serves not just as a record of a place, but also as a meditation on space, form, and the very act of seeing.