Kanaal in Venetië met een gondel en de trap naar de Rialtobrug c. 1914 - 1919

Willem Witsen made this print of a canal in Venice, with a gondola and the stairs to the Rialto Bridge, using etching. I love the way the gondola sits there, a slick, dark presence against the shimmering water, a still point in a fluid world. I imagine Witsen, squinting in the Venetian light, carefully laying down each line to conjure up a fleeting moment, a half-seen world emerging out of the shadows. There’s a sense of impermanence, like any second, the reflections could shift, the gondola could glide away, and the scene could disappear. It reminds me of Whistler's etchings, that same quiet, observant eye. Witsen's work, like all great art, invites us to pause and consider the world around us, to appreciate the beauty in the everyday. The artist is always in conversation with other artists, you see, and their work will always touch and inspire the next generation.