Gezicht op de Oudezijds Kolk te Amsterdam c. 1897

Here we see Willem Witsen's brisk sketch, "Gezicht op de Oudezijds Kolk te Amsterdam," a whirlwind of lines capturing a scene in Amsterdam. Witsen uses a minimal approach to drawing to distill the city’s essence. The composition features rapid, energetic lines that converge and diverge, creating a sense of depth and space. These quick marks define buildings and suggest reflections on the water. The immediacy of the sketch is striking; it is as if Witsen sought to capture the fleeting atmosphere of the moment, the structural architecture. In this work, Witsen seems to challenge the traditional boundaries between representation and abstraction. The sketch invites us to consider how much information is needed to evoke a sense of place. The lack of detail pushes us to fill in the gaps, engaging with the artwork. Ultimately, the sketch is a study in how minimal lines can convey both the structure and the spirit of a location. It also raises questions about how we perceive and interpret our surroundings through art.