Op 't IJ 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching called 'Op 't IJ', we don't know exactly when. The beauty of an etching lies in its lines, and here, they create a world of soft focus and quiet energy. Look how the reflections in the water aren't precise copies, but shimmering, broken strokes. This is the real stuff, the kind that happens when you’re not trying to be perfect, but just letting it flow. The buildings in the distance are hinted at with the faintest of marks, as are the figures wading in the water. It's the spars of the sailing ships which are most prominent, creating a kind of cage against the sky. Each mark is a decision, a little adventure. It reminds me of Whistler, but with a Dutch directness. It's a conversation, etching to etching, across time. Art isn’t about answers, it’s about the questions we keep asking each other.