Stadsgezicht c. 1887 - 1891

Willem Witsen created this sketch, titled 'Stadsgezicht', using graphite on paper. Witsen belonged to a generation of Dutch artists who came of age during a time of rapid urbanization and industrial change in the Netherlands. The sketch captures the moodiness of city life. With its ambiguous forms and lack of detail, it feels as if the city is viewed through a melancholic lens. The gendered nature of urban space during Witsen's time is relevant here. The city, particularly its public spaces, were predominantly male domains. What does it mean for Witsen, as a man, to experience and represent the city in this way? Does the sketch reflect a sense of alienation or perhaps a desire to find beauty in the mundane aspects of urban existence? Ultimately, this sketch invites us to consider the emotional and psychological dimensions of urban life in the late 19th century.