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

This drawing of a balustrade, facades, and a tower was made by Willem Witsen, but the date has been lost to time. What a collection of marks! It's like Witsen took a walk with his pen and let it lead him. The texture of the paper plays a big part here. It's not just a blank canvas; it’s got a life of its own. The marks are tentative, with the barest minimum of line. It’s as if he’s thinking through the drawing out loud, not precious, just trying to figure out how the pieces go together. Look at the tower: those little scribbles, the weight of the hatching, that's the real business. I see a little bit of Whistler, maybe some Boudin, in the way Witsen captures a scene with so few gestures. But, really, it's like a conversation with the paper itself, figuring out what's there.