Gezicht op een huis met een boom in Buitenzorg c. 1921

Willem Witsen made this print of a house and tree in Buitenzorg, using etching. The textures are so descriptive, like a kind of shorthand for visual experience, but what really gets me going is how he uses these graphic marks to create an overall tone. Take the tree in the foreground – it's not just a tree; it's a massive, grounding force. The etched lines follow its form, yes, but they also build up this incredible sense of volume, of age, and solidity. And then you have the building itself, kind of nestled in the landscape. See how Witsen uses similar marks, but with slight variations, to suggest the texture of the building’s walls? It's like he’s thinking about how each material reflects light, absorbs shadows, and exists in relation to the other elements. Witsen reminds me of James McNeill Whistler, another printmaker who wasn’t afraid of simplicity. Ultimately, this work feels like a reminder that art doesn't need to be loud to be profound.