Gezicht op de Kraansluis in Amsterdam c. 1911

Willem Witsen etched this image of the Kraansluis in Amsterdam. The muted tones and delicate lines give it an intimate, almost dreamlike quality. It feels like a memory, a fleeting glimpse of a familiar scene. I can imagine Witsen standing there, carefully observing the light as it hits the water and the buildings. Did he sketch it first? Or did he work directly onto the plate, letting the image emerge slowly, line by line? Look at the way he's captured the reflections in the water—those shimmering strokes that suggest movement and depth. It reminds me of Whistler, of course, but with a certain Dutch sensibility. And the figures on the bridge! Tiny silhouettes, caught in their daily routines. It's a quiet, contemplative piece, but it speaks volumes about the artist's vision and his connection to his surroundings. It feels like I am standing there with him, watching the world go by.