Stadsgezicht met een brug, mogelijk Amsterdam c. 1887 - 1891

Willem Witsen likely sketched this city view with a bridge, possibly in Amsterdam, using graphite on paper. The stark contrast between the almost blank paper and the dark marks lends the sketch a rawness. The artist's hand is evident in the varying pressure of the pencil, creating depth and texture. It is the immediacy that stands out. There's no erasing, no second-guessing. The choice of graphite, a readily available and relatively inexpensive material, speaks to the everyday nature of the subject. The urban landscape, once the domain of the upper classes, was now becoming a source of fascination for artists of all backgrounds. A quick sketch like this one would have served as an exercise of close observation, of understanding the changing world. This is as much an impression of a place as it is an act of labor. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that art is not just about the final product, but also about the process, the materials, and the social context in which it was created.