Gezicht op huizen aan een rivier in Batavia c. 1921

Willem Witsen made this etching of houses along a river in Batavia; it's this subtle, sepia-toned view from another time. I can just imagine Witsen with his etching tools, carefully digging into that plate, line by line, to conjure this scene. There's a lot of detail, right? The rooftops, the trees, the water reflecting it all. You can feel the weight of those buildings, the stillness of the water. I'm struck by the way Witsen has captured the light, it’s almost palpable. It makes me think about the long line of artists who have looked at the world and tried to capture it, each one adding their own perspective. Each mark here is so intentional, so considered. And even though it’s just a print, you can still feel the artist's presence, can’t you? It's like he’s inviting us to step into his shoes and see the world as he did.