Twee gevels, waaronder een tuitgevel c. 1897 - 1900

Willem Witsen made this drawing, "Two Facades, Including a Gable," using graphite. Witsen belonged to a group of Dutch artists known as the Amsterdam Impressionists, who sought to capture the atmosphere of everyday life. These are the streets and buildings that formed the backdrop for the lives of people from all walks of life. Witsen, coming from a privileged background, turned to his surroundings in Amsterdam for inspiration, to the working-class neighborhoods outside his own familiar world. In the context of the late 19th century, when industrialization and urbanization were rapidly transforming European cities, Witsen’s drawing offers a glimpse into the changing urban landscape and its impact on society. He captures a moment in time, inviting us to consider the lives of those who inhabited these spaces and the social dynamics that shaped their experiences. The almost detached style invites us to consider the position of the artist, and the viewer, in relation to the subject.