Studieblad met een balustrade, gevelstenen en een toren c. 1915 - 1920

Willem Witsen made this sketch of a balustrade, some gables, and a tower, probably in his sketchbook while wandering around the city. It’s all delicate and tentative, like he’s trying to figure something out. I love the way the architectural details are rendered with such simplicity. It's like he's capturing the essence of these forms with just a few strokes. The lines seem to dance across the page, suggesting movement and light. I wonder if he was thinking about the relationship between architecture and the human figure as he sketched. It reminds me of the way artists like Giorgio Morandi would use simple forms to explore the poetics of everyday life. It's like Witsen is inviting us to see the world with fresh eyes, to find beauty in the ordinary. A quick sketch is the perfect way to record a fleeting impression or idea and share it with others.