Woningen langs een rivier in Batavia met een vrouw die kleding wast c. 1921

Willem Witsen made this etching of houses along a river in Batavia with a woman washing clothes; it’s not known exactly when. The whole thing is built up of tiny marks; see how Witsen uses them to create subtle gradations in tone and texture. The marks that make up the water seem very different from the marks that make up the buildings, like they were drawn on different days. The water is all horizontal and calm, while the buildings are more jumbled up, with dark patches that could be mold or just shadows. Look closely, and you can see how the white of the paper shines through in places. The roofs seem to have a life of their own. The way Witsen lets some areas remain open and undefined reminds me a little of Whistler. They both understood that what you leave out can be just as important as what you put in. It’s a reminder that art is about suggestion, not just description.