Woningen in een Chinese buurt in Batavia 1918

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this etching of houses in a Chinese neighborhood in Batavia. You know, when you look at a print like this, you can almost feel the artist right there, meticulously scratching away at the plate. All those little lines coming together to create a whole world. I imagine Nieuwenkamp wandering through the streets of Batavia, sketchbook in hand, soaking in the atmosphere. There is a certain stillness in the air. I can almost hear the sounds of the city – the distant chatter, the clanging of pots, maybe even the faint scent of spices wafting through the air. Those cross-hatched lines create a sense of depth, pulling you into the scene. The man in the doorway, a quiet observer, invites you to enter. It reminds me of the work of other printmakers, like Rembrandt, who could create entire universes with just a few lines. It’s like they’re all having a conversation across time, inspiring each other, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. There is something beautifully ambiguous about it, and it seems to invite you to linger, to dream.