Perspectiefstudie 1803

This ‘Perspectiefstudie’ was drawn by Jurriaan Andriessen with pen in grey ink on paper. At first glance, the drawing presents a carefully constructed skeletal framework. Andriessen employs a rigorous grid overlaid with precise lines to suggest spatial depth and architectural forms. The composition emphasizes geometric shapes, like triangles and rectangles, and their relationships. The limited tonal range and the linear precision reduce the depicted forms to their most essential elements. The drawing explores perspective, a concept central to artistic and scientific thought since the Renaissance. Here, it seems Andriessen is less concerned with creating a realistic depiction than with dissecting the mechanics of spatial representation itself. The grid acts as a semiotic system. Each intersection and line break are signs of how space can be mathematically and rationally constructed. This approach challenges fixed notions of space, suggesting instead that it is a construct, something designed. The emphasis on structure invites us to question the nature of perception and representation.