Studie, mogelijk van een straat 1870 - 1923

This is Willem Witsen's pencil sketch, 'Studie, mogelijk van een straat', housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Witsen, born in 1860, came of age during a period of rapid urbanization and social change in the Netherlands. This sketch provides a glimpse into the artist's process, capturing a fleeting moment in the urban landscape. What stories do these bare outlines tell? Witsen was part of a generation grappling with questions of national identity and the impact of modernity. His work often reflects an engagement with both the aesthetic and social dimensions of his surroundings. Consider the figures, reduced to mere suggestions, inhabiting this space. How might their experiences be shaped by the environment? How do they contribute to the character of the street? Witsen encourages us to contemplate the complex interplay between individuals and the spaces they inhabit.