105. The row of Jews by Ruud van den Berg

About "105. The row of Jews"

by Ruud van den Berg

About the artwork

The digital artwork "The Row of Jews" depicts an intriguing street scene full of history and urban layering. At the centre of the image is a narrow, ancient alleyway that provides access to the mysterious "Little row of Jews". An iron gate, open invitingly, marks the entrance and raises questions about what is further down the alley. To the right of the gate, the weathered wall immediately catches the eye, daubed with graffiti that provides a raw, contemporary contrast to the historical atmosphere of the place. Above it hang three signs, including the nameplate identifying the alley, explicitly anchoring the site in the city.
At the right edge of the artwork, a striking element pops up: part of a bag shop with a curved glass display case. The glass not only bends light, but also reality: in the reflection, the opposite side of Bakkerstraat appears, where facades, windows and street furniture are ghostly distorted in the curved surface. This reflection turns out to be more layered than it appears at first glance, as another reflection becomes visible in the mirror image - a subtle reflection of the side of the street where the viewer himself is standing.
These visual echoes reinforce the sense of depth and interconnectedness; past and present, inside and outside, watching and being watched, merge into one snapshot. "The Row of Jews" invites the viewer to look not only at the alley, but also at the traces of time and perspective recorded in the urban fabric.

Address: Bakkerstraat 10, 3511 RW Utrecht

Digital artwork after own photo

Finished on: 22-09-2022