Batavia. Huizen aan de kali met bomen ertussen c. 1921

Willem Witsen made this aquatint titled 'Batavia. Huizen aan de kali met bomen ertussen’ without a specific date, but I imagine him working on the plate, maybe outdoors, maybe in a studio, coaxing these tones and shapes into existence. I love the warm, sepia tones and how Witsen’s lines create these houses nestled among trees – it almost feels like looking at a faded photograph or a memory. I can imagine Witsen carefully applying the acid to the plate, watching as the image slowly emerged, like a secret being revealed. There's a kind of intimacy in the details. The way the light filters through the trees, creating patterns on the buildings, reminds me of the Impressionists’ obsession with capturing fleeting moments. It speaks to how artists learn from each other, borrowing and building upon ideas across time. Painting, and printmaking, it's all a conversation, right?