Bebouwing, mogelijk te Wijk bij Duurstede Possibly 1906 - 1909

Curator: Willem Witsen's sketch, likely from between 1906 and 1909, titled "Bebouwing, mogelijk te Wijk bij Duurstede"—or "Buildings, Possibly at Wijk bij Duurstede"—offers us a glimpse into a Dutch townscape. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum, a tangible piece of history. Editor: My first impression is...cozy. A little rough around the edges, sure, like a charcoal-tinged dream. The perspective's slightly tilted, which makes me feel like I'm peeking into a secret world. Curator: That tilt creates an interesting dynamic. If we look at the structural composition, you'll notice Witsen’s deft handling of line and shading to render depth, giving a sense of the buildings receding into space. It’s a superb example of his talent in capturing atmosphere with minimal strokes. Editor: Absolutely. It reminds me of the hushed moments before dusk, when shadows start to play tricks. I’m fascinated by that stark tree in the foreground, though. It looks so delicate and bare, especially against the stout structures. Almost as though he needed a bit of life injected into these brick walls. What do you think of his technique here, since you brought it up? Curator: I feel this piece exists somewhere between a technical drawing and a plein air impression, perhaps a study jotted down on location as it’s evident the medium appears to be pencil or charcoal on paper, perfect for immediate, on-the-spot rendering. There is evidence that the artist then may have embellished it later at the studio, by looking at the level of detail and structure added here and there to each building. It would be nice to be sure the sketchbook from which this was taken did actually follow him during his journeys! Editor: What gets me most, though, is the human element – or the lack thereof! Even without figures, the sketch feels intimate, like a whispered story only we can hear. This could be anywhere, it feels both so familiar and so strange all at once. This contrast truly is pure genius. Curator: It really is the feeling this image has on the audience. Even the sketch-like unfinished state is a great artistic touch, because that really draws you in for a longer contemplation. Editor: Well, considering that feeling that Witsen evokes from our end, I think we can conclude that it speaks for itself pretty clearly!