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

Willem Witsen's Gezicht op de Binnen-Amstel in Amsterdam, captures a cityscape in soft, muted tones. I’m imagining Witsen standing there, maybe on another bridge, his eyes scanning the scene, soaking up the light as he begins the painstaking task of etching. There’s a beautiful haze over everything, created by these tiny, precise lines. I can almost feel the damp air and smell the canal. Those buildings lining the water’s edge seem to huddle together, their reflections shimmering in the water. The figures crossing the bridge become part of the architecture, blending in. What was Witsen thinking as he meticulously worked? Was he trying to freeze a fleeting moment, the ephemeral light of a cloudy day? It makes me think of other artists who’ve tried to capture the essence of a place, like Whistler with his London nocturnes. There’s a shared sensibility, a desire to distill the mood of a city. It's like artists are always in conversation, echoing and responding to each other across time. It reminds us that art isn't just about what we see, but how we feel. It is open to interpretation, to being felt, and to change over time.