Gezicht op een Amsterdamse gracht met vogels c. 1887 - 1920

This is Willem Witsen’s "View of an Amsterdam Canal with Birds," and it's made with pencil on paper. There is such a sense of immediacy in this drawing; it feels almost like a notation. The artist has captured the scene with spare lines. Note how the marks have a tentative quality, but each line is laid down with a great sense of placement and confidence. I love the way the artist has used minimal marks to denote the birds. These small, angled lines suggesting their flight paths creates a feeling of airiness, almost like musical notes on a staff. The overall impression is one of lightness and fluidity, with the blank space of the paper playing an active role in the composition. Witsen reminds me of James Whistler, who also captured transient moments with such sensitivity. Both artists share a similar approach to capturing atmospheric effects with minimal means. Art is always a conversation!