Het West-Indisch huis 1870 - 1923

Willem Witsen created this drawing of the West-Indisch Huis with graphite on paper. The building itself looms large, a stoic emblem of Dutch mercantile power in Amsterdam. Notice how the open windows offer us a glimpse into another world, suggesting a permeability between private and public life. This motif echoes across centuries, recalling the Roman "oculus," an eye to the heavens, or even the intimate openings in Renaissance portraits that reveal hidden truths. The window is a recurring symbol in art history representing the human psyche: both a portal and a barrier, reflecting our desire to look out but also protect ourselves. Consider this symbol's cyclical journey through art history, its evolution from sacred aperture to a secular frame, yet its persistent emotional charge—engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.