Emerson, San Francisco c. 1915 - 1919

This etching by Willem Witsen, now at the Rijksmuseum, shows an arch in San Francisco with a 'For Sale' sign attached. I imagine Witsen, with his etching needle, carefully scraping back the surface, describing the facade. The marks are delicate, and I can picture him working and reworking them, building up the image bit by bit. It reminds me of Piranesi's architectural prints, but with a softer, more melancholic touch. I like how the scene is imbued with a sense of decay. There's a ghostly quality to the light, the way it catches on the crumbling stonework. It's like Witsen is trying to capture a fleeting moment, a city in transition. The composition, with the arch framing a distant cityscape, creates a sense of depth and perspective, drawing you into the scene. It’s a reminder that artists are always in dialogue, borrowing and building upon the ideas of those who came before, each adding their own unique voice to the conversation. Painting or etching, it's all about seeing, feeling, and translating that into something new.