Gezicht op een straat met rijtuigen c. 1887 - 1897

Curator: Let’s discuss Willem Witsen's "Gezicht op een straat met rijtuigen," a pen and ink drawing from around 1887-1897 held at the Rijksmuseum. I'm immediately struck by how skeletal it is. It looks like a fleeting moment captured, almost incomplete. What catches your eye? Editor: I agree, it definitely feels like a sketch. There's something almost ghostly about the carriages and figures. How do you interpret this work in the context of late 19th-century Amsterdam? Curator: Consider the societal shifts of the late 19th century – rapid industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of the bourgeoisie. Witsen, a member of the Amsterdam Impressionists, often depicted the city's evolving landscape. How do you see this sketch reflecting those changes, and perhaps, the social inequalities that came with them? Are the figures individualized, or are they just archetypes? Editor: I see what you mean. The figures are so indistinct, they almost seem to fade into the background, suggesting a certain anonymity within the bustling city. It is also tempting to think they are just archetypes or place holders. Curator: Exactly! Now, how does this emphasis on anonymity – or perhaps alienation – connect with broader philosophical currents of the time, such as existentialism and its critiques of modern society? Do you think Witsen is consciously engaging with these ideas, or is he simply reflecting the world he sees? Editor: That's a great question. It's hard to say for sure, but even if it wasn't a conscious choice, the drawing captures a sense of the individual being dwarfed by the rapidly changing urban environment. Maybe it reflects how progress affects class in a growing society? Curator: Precisely. It's a poignant snapshot of a society in transition, open to multiple interpretations. I wonder about Witsen's position within the elite circles, and how it influenced his outlook. What do you think? Editor: Thinking about it now, that's a valid point. Thanks, I now have a better view on what he might have been seeing. Curator: Absolutely. It is good to see different angles.