Kwakelbrug in Edam Possibly 1903

This small etching titled Kwakelbrug in Edam was made in 1903 by Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp. The print looks like it was built up layer by layer, with many tiny marks used to describe the scene. I imagine Nieuwenkamp drawing each line carefully, trying to capture the atmosphere. It's as if he's thinking about how all these tiny gestures can come together to create a sense of place. There’s something both precise and mysterious about this image. The sharp detail of the bridge contrasts with the reflection of the water, which is more loosely described. For me, it speaks to the idea of how artists are constantly in conversation with each other, borrowing and experimenting with different ways of seeing and making. I feel like this etching invites us to slow down, to look more closely at the world around us, and to appreciate the beauty of the everyday.