West-Indisch Huis 1875 - 1923

Willem Witsen created this artwork of West-Indisch Huis with etching. In this print, Witsen captures the architectural mass of the West India House in Amsterdam, framing it through a network of linear precision. The building's facade is depicted with acute attention to detail; the regular arrangement of windows suggests a formal grid, while the visible texture hints at the stone and brick materiality. The contrast between the solid structure and the fluid lines depicting the water creates a dynamic tension, enhanced by the presence of a boat in the foreground. Here, Witsen disrupts the traditional picturesque landscape, positioning urban architecture as the central motif. The composition focuses on the interplay between geometric forms and the subtlety of light, which softens the industrial scene with atmospheric effects. This etching invites us to consider how architectural spaces shape our perceptions and experiences of urban life, questioning the boundaries between the industrial and the aesthetic.