Bomen voor een huizenrij 1870 - 1923

Editor: Here we have "Trees in Front of a Row of Houses" by Willem Witsen, created sometime between 1870 and 1923. It's a drawing made with pencil and ink on paper, currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. I'm struck by how sketchy it feels – like a fleeting impression. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: You know, it’s funny, because when I first saw this drawing, I felt like I was looking at a memory, almost like a half-forgotten dream. It's impressionistic, right? Capturing that specific feeling or fleeting moment with just a few suggestive strokes. The starkness of the ink against the paper really emphasizes the skeletal nature of the trees. They seem to be reaching, clawing even, toward the sky, while the houses behind them seem almost ghostlike in comparison. Editor: Ghostlike is a great way to put it! It makes me think about the constant push and pull between nature and urban development. Do you think Witsen was trying to convey a message about that relationship? Curator: That's certainly one way to interpret it. Perhaps he was hinting at the encroaching city and its impact on the natural landscape, or vice versa – the relentless perseverance of nature asserting itself in the urban setting. Or perhaps he was simply capturing the unique visual relationship that unfolded before his eyes. Maybe it's less about message and more about... atmosphere? The bare trees hint at winter, so do we feel a melancholy mood settling in? Editor: I can see that. Atmosphere over argument. Now that you mention winter, the starkness feels even more poignant. So, it’s about the mood that the sketch suggests? Curator: Precisely. The real strength is the feeling, the vibe, what the work communicates to your senses rather than any direct claim it might be making. Editor: That’s so interesting! I was initially drawn to its simplicity, but now I see a deeper sense of reflection embedded in its atmospheric quality. Curator: Exactly! It’s like Witsen wasn't just showing us a place, he was inviting us to feel a moment. And sometimes, those quiet, reflective moments are the ones that resonate most profoundly.