Figuren op een kade in Amsterdam 1870 - 1923

Willem Witsen made this sketch of figures on a quay in Amsterdam with pen and ink on paper. Witsen was a member of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, capturing the city's atmosphere in quiet, intimate scenes. Here, we see figures rendered with just a few lines in a seemingly unremarkable, everyday setting. Yet, the mundane subject reflects a broader shift in artistic interest towards the lives of ordinary people, a departure from the grand historical or mythological themes that dominated earlier art. Amsterdam in the late 19th century was a city undergoing rapid industrialization and social change. Witsen, who came from an upper-class background, seemed drawn to capturing the changing face of the city and the lives of its inhabitants. The sketch has a quiet, melancholic feel. It captures a fleeting moment in time. It invites us to reflect on the everyday experiences of people in a rapidly changing urban environment, reminding us of the beauty and dignity of ordinary life.