Gezicht op Waterloo Bridge te Londen 1888 - 1891

Willem Witsen made this sketch of Waterloo Bridge in London with graphite on paper. The apparent simplicity of this drawing belies its sophistication. Here, the quick, economical use of line is critical. Look at the left-hand page, largely blank but for a few smudges and spots. This openness amplifies the urgency of the marks on the right. Witsen swiftly captures the basic architectural elements of the bridge. It’s a study in contrasts – of light and shadow, negative and positive space, open and closed form. Think about the act of drawing itself, a fundamental creative act. From the rapid marks, we can sense Witsen’s movement, the pressure and speed with which he captured the scene before him. The choice of such a quotidian material, and a seemingly dashed off composition challenges the traditional distinction between art and craft. It reminds us that creative expression can be found in the everyday, and that the act of making, no matter how simple, can be profoundly meaningful.