Woningen in een Chinese buurt in Batavia 1918

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this print of houses in Batavia using etching techniques. It’s all about the surface, and the process. See how the lines create depth, but also flatten the space. The details around the door create a certain tension. There's a figure standing in the doorway but it's not like a portrait. They are almost like part of the architecture, a detail in the overall composition. The whole image is rendered in this very even tone of brown, which brings a certain atmospheric unity. It's really a print about light and shadow. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural prints, but without the grand scale or drama. Both artists explore space and form through line and tone. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation across time and cultures, an ongoing exchange of ideas and ways of seeing.