Poort van Hotel Bellevue in Buitenzorg c. 1921

Willem Witsen made this print of the Poort van Hotel Bellevue in Buitenzorg using etching. It’s all in warm browns, like sepia photographs, and the image seems to emerge out of the surface. The subject is a gateway framing a view of trees and foliage beyond. The etching has a sketchy quality, like a quick study or an unfinished piece. The lines are confident and expressive, giving a sense of depth and atmosphere. Take a look at the arch of the gateway, the way it's formed by these looping, scribbled lines. They feel so immediate and personal. The texture of the paper adds to the feeling of intimacy. The layering and repetition of lines give the print a kind of visual vibration that you can almost feel in your body. Witsen's work reminds me of James McNeill Whistler, who also had a taste for atmospheric landscapes and subtle tonal effects. It’s less about the thing depicted, and more about the feeling generated. A mood.