Huis met een geopend raam c. 1887 - 1892

Willem Witsen made this sketch, "Huis met een geopend raam," with pen and brush in ink and watercolor, on paper. Witsen was a prominent figure in the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which emerged in the late 19th century during a period of rapid urbanization and social change. His work often focused on capturing the intimate, everyday scenes of city life. In this sketch we see an open window which suggests an invitation to look inside and reflect on the lives unfolding within the walls of the building. There is a tension between the public and the private, the observed and the concealed, that is heightened by the limited perspective. The loose, gestural lines create a sense of immediacy and transience, as if capturing a fleeting moment in time. This sketch is not just a depiction of a building, but a meditation on the human experience, on the interplay between individuals and their environment. It invites us to consider the stories hidden behind closed doors, and to find beauty in the mundane.