Gezicht op de Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal met het Koninklijk Paleis c. 1897

Willem Witsen made this drawing, titled "Gezicht op de Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal met het Koninklijk Paleis," with graphite on paper. It captures a scene of everyday life in Amsterdam. Witsen’s choice of graphite as a medium is important here, because it emphasizes the gritty realities of the urban environment. The graphite mimics the sooty air of the industrializing city. Look at the quick strokes, the rubbed textures, the artist's notations. There’s nothing precious about this drawing; it’s as functional as a news photograph. The social context of the piece is also revealed through its composition. The imposing Koninklijk Paleis, or Royal Palace, is present in the background, but it is partly obscured by trees. Instead, Witsen focused on portraying the people who inhabit the public spaces of the city. Paying attention to materials, processes, and social context allows us to question traditional notions of fine art and appreciate the rich layers of meaning embedded in this modest drawing.