Ophaalbrug bij de Zandhoek te Amsterdam c. 1887s - 1897s

Willem Witsen sketched "Ophaalbrug bij de Zandhoek te Amsterdam" using graphite on paper, capturing a scene from his home city. Witsen, born into a wealthy family, positioned himself as a chronicler of Amsterdam and its surroundings. The Zandhoek bridge, with its raised platforms, becomes a symbol here, potentially of connection and division within the rapidly industrializing city. The use of graphite lends a softness to the image, blurring the sharp lines of the architecture and inviting a more emotive reading. Witsen's Amsterdam was a place of burgeoning modernity, but also one deeply rooted in tradition, and the bridge becomes a focal point. The drawing asks us to consider not only the physical landscape of Amsterdam, but also the social and cultural bridges and barriers that shaped the lives of its inhabitants. Witsen captures a transient moment, yet it speaks to enduring themes of urban life.