Overhaal bij de Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam c. 1912

Willem Witsen made this etching, “Overhaal bij de Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam”, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s all in tones of brown and cream, delicate and considered. The artist’s hand feels really present in the density of marks that make up the reflections in the water, the brickwork of the buildings, and the bare branches of the tree. The darkest area is towards the centre, drawing your eye in to a cluster of activity. The image isn’t perfectly clear or photographically representational; instead, it’s suggestive, focusing on light and atmosphere. It's the kind of scene you might experience in a dream. I love the way that Witsen has allowed the image to fall away at the edges, with just a few lines suggesting the foreground. Witsen’s work reminds me of James McNeill Whistler's etchings of London. Both artists embraced a tonalist aesthetic, focusing on mood and atmosphere rather than precise detail. It’s a whole community, these artists, always in conversation with each other, across time.