Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam 1903 - 1938

Frans Everbag made this print of the Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam, and what I notice right away is how it’s a record of looking and thinking. The tower is a kind of brownish-pink, a color you mightn’t expect, but that just tells us Everbag was really *seeing* instead of just knowing what color a tower “should” be. The texture of the print is dreamy. The surface almost looks like it’s been rubbed, giving it a kind of misty, atmospheric feel. Look at the reflections in the water. See how they’re not perfect mirror images, but soft, suggestive shapes? And the little boat! It’s this blob of yellow, such a simple shape, but it adds so much life to the scene. This work reminds me a bit of James McNeil Whistler's etchings, with their understated elegance and focus on atmosphere. It’s not about showing off technical skill, it’s about capturing a feeling, a mood. To me it’s about being open to the world, and the potential for beauty that can be found in the simplest of things.