Gezicht op de Binnen-Amstel in Amsterdam c. 1906 - 1907

Willem Witsen made this print, "Gezicht op de Binnen-Amstel in Amsterdam," by using a painstaking method of etching, building up tone through tiny marks. Look at the bridge, a central feature, built up with closely hatched lines, creating a sense of depth. The material presence of this work lies in its monochromatic palette; the tones of black ink on white paper evoke a gray, overcast day. Witsen doesn't hide the marks of his process, but rather revels in them. It's like you are looking at an old photograph, or maybe even an early film. The way he scratches into the surface to create the reflections in the water reminds me of Whistler, another artist who embraced atmosphere and mood. Art is always in conversation, always echoing and riffing on what came before.