Achtergevels van de Voorstraat 463, 465 en 467 in Dordrecht 1900

Willem Witsen created this etching, titled Achtergevels van de Voorstraat 463, 465 en 467 in Dordrecht, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Witsen, who came from a wealthy family, was part of a group of Dutch artists associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. This piece offers a glimpse into the back views of buildings along the Voorstraat in Dordrecht, reflecting the urban life of the Netherlands during that period. The image captures a quiet moment, with a figure looking out from an open window. The ladder leading up to the window and the boats on the canal suggest a connection between the domestic space and the city's waterways. Witsen's choice to depict the back of these buildings, rather than the grand facades, might be seen as a deliberate move away from traditional representations. The peeling walls and everyday scenes suggest a focus on the lives of ordinary people, offering a narrative that embraces the emotional and personal dimensions of urban existence.