Gezicht op de noordzijde van het Rokin met het oude Beurspleintje c. 1911 - 1912

Tinus de Jongh made this etching of the Rokin in Amsterdam, and it’s like he’s feeling his way through the scene, one tiny line at a time. The whole thing is built out of marks, like a pointillist painting but with ink, where each stroke is carefully placed to suggest light and shadow. Look at how he renders the water—it’s not just flat; you can feel the ripples and reflections through these delicate lines. The buildings loom, covered in snow, each brick and window etched with precision. There’s a real sense of atmosphere; you can almost feel the cold, crisp air of Amsterdam in winter. For me it’s like looking at a more contemporary artist such as Vija Celmins, who also builds up images through careful, methodical mark making. Ultimately, this is an image about process, about looking, and about the quiet beauty of a city street on a snowy day.