Sketches

Sunday 21 October 2012

Moresnet

Moresnet, in Belgium, just across the border into the Ardennes. It's a small village hidden below a huge train viaduct.
The viaduct was built in the 1st World War to move artillery to the western front. As the Netherlands was neutral and the Germans could not pass our country, they had to build a railwayline just south of the Dutch-Belgian border, through very hilly terrain. This viaduct spans 1,2 km with at the highest point 50 meters above the ground, and was the largest in its time. There are more interesting stories to be told about Moresnet, maybe another time.

9 comments:

schilderijenfoto said...

weer zo lekker contrastrijk.

Michael Lukyniuk said...

This is a nice composition which you've accompanied with an interesting history. It would be great to do other sketches of the town and viaduct.

Michael Lukyniuk said...

This is a nice composition which you've accompanied with an interesting history. It would be great to do other sketches of the town and viaduct.

Rene Fijten said...

Dank je Geert-Jan, deze was wel heel wat beter dan de Sittard tekeningen, niet dan?
Thanks Michael, the problem in this vallage (rather hamlet) is that viaduct is very dominating, and this is one of the few locations where the view is interesting. But you never know, it tastes like more.

Flo said...

Nice sketch and story : I'm always afraid to know how many energy human beings can spend for war.... This composition is like a testimony

Flo said...

Nice sketch and story : I'm always afraid to know how many energy human beings can spend for war.... This composition is like a testimony

Rene Fijten said...

Thank you Florence, large numbers of Polish and Russian prisoners of war were forced to work (and die) here.

LuTi said...

nice work. I have been here the other day but Google did not let me write comment!!

Well balanced composition and the use of colors, probably you have not been disturbed ( compare to your Limbourg sketch) while drawing .

Rene Fijten said...

Yes Ludek, it was getting twilight and chilling, one of the very rare occasions where you can sit undisturbed in a car with the music on and draw what is in front of you.