Gezicht op de Jodenhouttuinen in Amsterdam vanaf het water bij de Sint Antoniesluis c. 1905 - 1906

Willem Witsen made this print of the Jodenhouttuinen in Amsterdam, using etching, a process that allowed him to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow. Witsen belonged to a group of Dutch artists known as the Amsterdam Impressionists, who were interested in depicting everyday life in the city. The Jodenhouttuinen, or Jewish wood gardens, was a neighborhood with a predominantly Jewish population. In the late 19th century, Amsterdam was home to a growing Jewish community, many of whom were poor and marginalized. Witsen's choice to depict this neighborhood offers a glimpse into the lives of a community that was often overlooked. What does it mean to make visible a population and a place that exists on the margins? The viewpoint from the Sint Antoniesluis, a lock on the Amstel River, suggests a perspective from outside the community, creating both a sense of distance and a desire to observe. The contrast between light and shadow may represent the complex realities of life in the Jodenhouttuinen, highlighting both its beauty and its struggles.