Gezicht op de Sint Antoniesluis in Amsterdam c. 1911

Willem Witsen made this etching of the Sint Antoniesluis in Amsterdam at the turn of the last century, probably using a needle or a similar tool to scratch the image directly onto a metal plate. I imagine Witsen standing by the canal, squinting at the light as he etched the scene. He must have felt a real affinity for the quiet beauty of the city and the way the buildings met the water and the sky. Look at the sky, you can almost feel the humidity, and the solid dark blocks of the buildings. There’s a light on in one of the windows, and I can’t help but wonder who is up there working late or maybe just reading in bed? Then your eye travels to the water and the boats. Witsen captures a sense of depth and distance with just a few lines. It reminds me of Whistler's etchings of London.