Gezicht op Katwijk 1888

This etching, *Gezicht op Katwijk,* by Floris Verster, presents a muted scene with a stark, linear focus. The composition is dominated by closely packed buildings. The artist's marks are raw and unrefined, reflecting a certain ambivalence toward pictorial finesse. Consider how Verster uses line and form to suggest a location that feels more like a mental space than a physical one. The repetitive lines create texture and a sense of depth, yet also flatten the image, creating a sense of unease. We might think about this tension in terms of post-structuralist ideas, which question the stability of meaning. The landscape becomes a sign, a visual marker that destabilizes any clear interpretation. The materiality of the etching, with its stark contrasts, reinforces this sense of detachment. The print becomes a site where the idea of Katwijk is both presented and questioned. This interplay invites us to consider the cultural codes embedded within our perception of landscape and place.