Gezicht op de Waterloo Bridge te Londen c. 1888 - 1891

Willem Witsen made this drawing of the Waterloo Bridge in London with graphite on paper. The choice of graphite lends itself to capturing a moment, a preliminary thought, or fleeting observation, with a minimum of labor. Here, the River Thames is represented by quick, economical gestures. There are many possibilities available to the artist when they decide to make something, each one loaded with historical meaning. The decision to create a quick sketch is also an aesthetic and social choice. There’s no attempt to prettify the urban reality that Witsen is observing. The sketch offers an immediacy that a more labored painting might lack. By giving us this quick impression, Witsen draws our attention to the everyday aspects of London's urban landscape. This sketch is a reminder that art need not be about high-flown subjects, but can find beauty and interest in the mundane, and the material realities of the world around us.