Architectuurstudie c. 1888s

Willem Witsen sketched this architectural study with pencil, capturing an urban landscape. The structural elements, though lightly rendered, evoke the enduring human impulse to create form and order. The buildings, reduced to their basic shapes, stand as silent witnesses, reminiscent of ancient ziggurats. Consider how these stark, geometric forms echo through time, reappearing in the towering skyscrapers of modernity. These constructions reflect our collective desire for permanence and a reach towards the heavens. It is an architectural echo that resonates from the earliest temples to today's urban skylines. There's a dreamlike quality to this study. The delicate lines and ephemeral forms suggest a landscape more felt than seen. It is the kind of image that lingers in the subconscious, resurfacing in our dreams, reflecting our deep-seated psychological need for shelter and belonging. It serves as a potent reminder of how our built environment shapes our inner world.