Gezicht c. 1884 - 1887

Willem Witsen made this sketch, "Gezicht," which translates to "View," with a pencil on paper. Witsen was a Dutch artist who lived through a time of great social change, witnessing the transition from the old world to a modern industrial society. Although this sketch is unfinished, it contains within it the foundations of an important theme in the history of Dutch art: the relationship between the city, the landscape, and the artist's perspective. The sketch is not just a literal record of a place, but also an expression of the artist's personal experience of that place. It suggests a mood, an atmosphere. To better understand the scene Witsen was trying to capture, researchers might consult historical maps, photographs, and written accounts of the area. These resources can help us understand the social conditions that shaped Witsen's view, as well as the artistic conventions that he drew upon in representing it. After all, our understanding of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.