Rand van de Grote Hagen (onderdeel zijkant) 1675

Christiaan Hagen created this print of the Nieuwe Oosterkerk church, likely around the turn of the 18th century. The composition immediately draws your eye upward, following the church’s tower as it soars into the cloud-filled sky. Hagen masterfully uses linear perspective to create depth, guiding your focus from the bustling foreground towards the horizon. Note how the architectural forms of the church contrast with the organic shapes of the clouds, creating a dynamic tension between the man-made and the natural world. This interplay can be seen through a structuralist lens as a representation of humanity's relationship with nature, reflecting the period's interest in harmonizing urban development with the environment. The print’s neat, framed border further emphasizes the structured view, positioning the scene as a carefully constructed representation. Hagen's detailed work invites ongoing interpretation, prompting us to consider how cultural values and philosophical ideas shape our perception and depiction of space.