Sadotje c. 1921

Willem Witsen made this small copper plate called Sadotje, using etching to create its delicate lines. It’s all about process, isn’t it? How you can get a whole scene, a whole world, out of some simple scratches. Look at how Witsen uses the texture of the etched lines to suggest light and shadow. The way he captures the figure in the foreground is particularly interesting. See how those marks describe the weight of the person squatting. It feels like he’s really observed the way the body folds and rests. This etching reminds me a bit of James Ensor's work, with that same interest in everyday scenes. But where Ensor goes for the grotesque, Witsen is more interested in the quiet observation of life passing by. It’s a lovely example of how art can be about looking, really looking, and finding beauty in the mundane.