Oude straat te Rijswijk of Scheveningen 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout created this etching titled 'Oude straat te Rijswijk of Scheveningen', or 'Old street in Rijswijk or Scheveningen', which shows a street view in either of the two cities. Grondhout was a Dutch artist living in a rapidly changing world, where industrialization and urbanization were reshaping the social landscape. In the print, a solitary figure walks down a narrow street, evoking a sense of intimacy and isolation. The setting could be anywhere; however, the figure is almost certainly a working-class woman going about her daily life. The limited tonal range of the etching adds to the quiet, somber mood, perhaps reflecting the artist's perception of urban life during his time. Grondhout's work invites us to consider the everyday experiences of individuals navigating urban spaces. His choice to depict ordinary scenes, rather than grand historical events, aligns with a broader artistic movement towards representing the realities of modern life. It asks us to contemplate the lives of those often unseen.