Gezicht op de Lange Vijverberg en de Hofvijver te Den Haag 1681 - 1728

Cornelis Elandts created this print, "View of the Lange Vijverberg and the Hofvijver in The Hague," in the late 17th century. The eye is immediately drawn to the composition's formal structure. The scene is divided into distinct horizontal bands: the foreground with figures, the middle ground dominated by the pond, and the background filled with buildings and sky. Elandts masterfully uses linear perspective to create depth. Notice how lines converge towards a vanishing point, drawing the viewer's eye into the pictorial space. The formal clarity achieved through line and composition is striking, yet it also raises questions about representation and reality. The carefully constructed scene invites us to reflect on the ways in which images shape our understanding of the world. It reminds us that what we see is always mediated through the artist's choices.