Gezicht vanaf het Rokin naar het noorden c. 1911 - 1912

Willem Witsen created this etching, titled 'Gezicht vanaf het Rokin naar het noorden', with a needle and mordant on paper. The scene shows a view from the Rokin in Amsterdam, likely made in the late 19th or early 20th century. Witsen belonged to a group of Dutch artists known as the Amsterdam Impressionists. They were reacting against the formal art academies and sought to capture everyday life in the city. Here, the artist is concerned less with historical grandeur and more with the quiet pulse of modern life. The buildings, bridge, canal boats, and figures all blend harmoniously. As a historian, one can delve deeper into the urban planning and social changes occurring in Amsterdam at the time. Resources such as period maps, photographs, and municipal archives could shed light on the specific transformations Witsen was observing and how they reflect broader shifts in Dutch society. Only by understanding this social and institutional context can we truly appreciate the work.