Overhaal bij de Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam Possibly 1912 - 1915

Willem Witsen made this print of the Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam using etching, and it feels like peering into a half-remembered dream. The sepia tones give everything a nostalgic wash, like an old photograph faded with time. You can see the city reflected in the water, kind of broken up by the waves. What really grabs me is the tree right in the center. It’s winter, and the branches are bare, all scratchy and tangled. It’s like a drawing done with a really fine pen, each line so delicate, but together they make this strong, gnarly shape. The way the light hits the buildings is amazing. Some parts are sharp and clear, others are soft and blurry. Thinking about other artists, I'm reminded of Whistler. His prints have that same quiet, moody feeling. It's like Witsen is showing us a city that’s both real and imagined, solid and fleeting. It's the kind of picture that makes you want to wander around and get lost.