Place de Meir at Antwerp
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Place de Meir at Antwerp is a 1797 ink by Thomas Rowlandson, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This busy street scene shows a crowded market square with tall, ornate buildings lining both sides. People in old-fashioned clothes walk, chat, and sell goods from carts and stalls. Hay bales and wagons fill the left side, while a tall column with a golden statue stands in the center. The sky is light, with soft clouds, and the whole scene feels lively but orderly. The artist used a mix of light and shadow to give depth to the buildings and figures. Notice how the colors are muted but still show detail in the clothing and architecture. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama in art.
