Gezicht op Trafalgar Square te Londen 1888 - 1891

Willem Witsen sketched this view of London’s Trafalgar Square with graphite on paper, sometime between 1860 and 1923. The softness of graphite allows for blending and shading. You can see how Witsen used these techniques to capture the grand scale and bustling atmosphere of Trafalgar Square. The marks of the graphite record the movement of his hand as he surveys the urban landscape. The subtle tonal variations bring out the architectural details, while also capturing the atmosphere of London. Consider the ease with which an artist like Witsen could capture a scene like this with a relatively inexpensive sketchbook and pencil. The accessibility of these materials democratized art-making, allowing artists to record and interpret the world around them. In appreciating Witsen's sketch, it is important to recognize how the choice of materials informs our understanding of his artistic expression.