Huizenrij in Amsterdam 1870 - 1923

Here is an ink sketch of a row of houses in Amsterdam by Willem Witsen. Notice the stark lines defining the buildings, capturing the essence of the urban landscape. These linear depictions resonate with similar portrayals across different epochs. Consider how the straight, stark lines of ancient Roman architecture influenced Renaissance artists and their pursuit of geometric perfection. Even in the 20th century, artists continued to explore this motif, such as Mondrian’s geometric abstractions or the stark cityscapes of the Bauhaus movement. What emerges is a cultural memory of urban spaces conveyed through the symbolism of straight lines. The grid-like composition evokes a psychological tension, mirroring our subconscious fascination with order and structure. This yearning for order has deep roots, perhaps as an antidote to the chaos of existence. We see in this work how simple geometric elements carry a continuous thread of human expression.