Gezicht onder een brug met twee roeiboten c. 1914 - 1919

Willem Witsen made this etching, *Gezicht onder een brug met twee roeiboten*, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's all grays, browns, and blacks, and the etching is so fine that it has the quality of a charcoal drawing. I can imagine him, bending over the plate, carefully layering dark tones, and wiping away areas to create a sense of light reflecting on the water. I wonder, what was Witsen thinking about when he made this? Was he interested in capturing the light and atmosphere of the scene? Or was he more interested in the formal qualities of the composition? The bridge makes a solid frame, and the boats peek out the other side. It reminds me of Whistler and other artists from the time who were concerned with the same subject matter. Ultimately, art is a conversation and exchange of ideas across time. It’s about different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world.