Twee gezichten op een laan c. 1886

Editor: Here we have "Two Views of a Lane" from around 1886, a graphite drawing on paper by Willem Witsen, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. It definitely has an unfinished feel, very dreamlike and ambiguous, as if the artist just wanted to capture a fleeting moment. What do you see in it? Curator: Fleeting indeed. I'm captivated by its inherent impermanence, its almost wistful quality. Witsen captures not the lane itself, but the sensation of being within it, or rather, the *memory* of it. He's playing with the very act of seeing, with how much our minds fill in the gaps. Do you notice how the trees are mere suggestions, vertical lines hinting at their towering presence? Editor: Yes, and how the two perspectives sort of blend together. It's disorienting but also intriguing. Was he trying to show the passage of time or something? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe the multiple perspectives represent different moments, layered one on top of another within his mind. It evokes a certain mood of quiet contemplation, doesn't it? Almost melancholic. The Impressionists, especially those Dutch ones, were masters of mood, of capturing the quiet soul of a place. It's like listening to a very sad song, you can't help but feel… Editor: A little blue? I get it. But in a beautiful way. Curator: Exactly! It's a sketch, really. An echo of feeling given a paper existence. Witsen, almost magically, made it eternal. It is also interesting what this drawing would mean today, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. It's incredible how a few lines can convey so much emotion. Thanks for showing me a new way to look at it. Curator: My pleasure. Every encounter with art should expand our minds and enrich our lives. I dare say that's exactly what this Witsen artwork has achieved for us!