Huizenbouw in Den Haag 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching of house building in The Hague, though when exactly is a bit of a mystery. What strikes me is the raw, process-oriented approach, where the network of etched lines feels as important as the image itself. Looking closely, it’s all about texture. The lines are the thing. See how they create depth and shadow? Some areas are dense, almost chaotic, while others are sparse, letting the paper breathe. I’m drawn to the way the buildings in the background are suggested with just a few strokes, a kind of shorthand that captures the essence of the place. Then there’s the water, alive with movement, reflecting light in a way that feels almost impressionistic. Grondhout reminds me of other etchers like Whistler, who were masters of suggestion and atmosphere. Ultimately, this piece is about seeing, about finding beauty in the everyday, and about the magic that happens when an artist's hand meets the plate.