Gezicht te Amsterdam c. 1887

Willem Witsen made this sketch of Amsterdam with graphite on paper sometime in his lifetime, which stretched from 1860 to 1923. Although quickly rendered, there is much here to unpack in terms of the social conditions that shape artistic production. In the late 19th century, Amsterdam was a city undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Witsen, like many artists of his time, was interested in capturing the changing face of the city and its impact on everyday life. In addition, we might consider the institutional history of art education at this time. Artists were increasingly trained in academies and encouraged to develop their own unique styles. This sketch, with its loose lines and emphasis on atmosphere, reflects a shift away from traditional academic styles and towards a more modern, impressionistic approach. To understand this piece better, we might look to the artist's letters or the exhibition history of the time to consider the meaning of art as something that is contingent on social and institutional context.