Overhaal bij de Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam Possibly 1912 - 1915

Willem Witsen made this print of the Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam, and its watery environs, using etching. I can almost feel Witsen in his studio, sleeves rolled up, bending over the copper plate, and coaxing the scene out of the metal. I imagine the biting of the acid, each line a tiny decision etched in time. Look at the reflections shimmering in the water – they remind me that painting and printmaking aren't just about depicting a scene. It's about capturing a feeling, a moment, a mood. It’s like Witsen is saying, "Hey, look at this light, this air, this city that I love!" There’s a whole history of artists looking at this subject, each seeing something new, something different. It makes you realize that art is just one big conversation across time.