Architectuurstudies 1870 - 1923

This architectural study was made by Willem Witsen, using graphite on paper. The lines he’s laid down are tentative, like a spiderweb caught between buildings. This is clearly a preparatory sketch, intended to capture the feeling of the street, a visual impression that could later be translated into a finished work. It is humble. Yet the sketch is also fascinating for that very reason. It offers a glimpse into the artist’s process, a moment of in-betweenness. Here, we witness the architecture emerge from the blank page. The artist’s labour is palpable, a direct connection between eye, hand, and the urban landscape. This piece challenges the idea that ‘finished’ artworks are somehow superior to studies. In fact, the immediacy and honesty of this sketch, it's trace of labor, may well be its most compelling quality.