Gezicht op de Leuvehaven in Rotterdam 1897

Willem Witsen created this etching of the Leuvehaven in Rotterdam. Witsen lived through a time of immense social change and industrialization. The grittiness of the harbor invites us to consider the economic transformations underway in the late 19th century. The scene is quiet, almost melancholic. We see boats docked, their masts reaching up against a backdrop of buildings. The sky is muted, the water still. The absence of human figures emphasizes the solitude and perhaps the alienation of modern life. Witsen, part of the Dutch impressionist movement, captures the fleeting moments of urban life. There's a starkness to the depiction that reflects the changing dynamics of labor and trade. The quays, usually bustling with activity, are depicted as still. It prompts us to reflect on the human cost of progress and the emotional landscape of a rapidly evolving society.