Gezicht op de trap naar de Ponte di Rialto in Venetië c. 1914 - 1919

Willem Witsen made this print of the staircase to the Rialto Bridge in Venice using etching. The layering of these fine marks conjures the scene out of almost nothing. The etching feels provisional, like a thought in progress. Look closely at how the shadows are built up, especially in the arches and under the staircase. The texture is almost velvety, created by countless tiny lines going every which way. It's like Witsen is feeling his way through the darkness, trusting the process to reveal the image. The reflections on the water are a marvel, just a few flicks of the wrist and you're there, on the canal. I'm reminded of Whistler's etchings of Venice, that same sense of capturing a fleeting moment. But Witsen feels more raw, less concerned with beauty than with the sheer act of seeing. Art is a journey into the unknown.