Huis op de hoek van de Krom Boomssloot en de Korte Dijkstraat te Amsterdam c. 1905 - 1906

Editor: So, this is Willem Witsen's "Huis op de hoek van de Krom Boomssloot en de Korte Dijkstraat te Amsterdam," a pencil drawing from around 1905 or 1906. I'm struck by its intimacy. It feels like a stolen moment, capturing the quiet essence of Amsterdam's old streets. What captures your eye in this piece? Curator: It whispers stories, doesn’t it? To me, it's as if Witsen has sketched a memory – perhaps one viewed from the seat of a boat lazily drifting along the canal. Look how the pencil lines almost dissolve, blurring the distinction between brick and water, past and present. He's not just drawing a building; he's conveying a feeling, a lived experience. The very paper seems to hold the mists from an early morning. Do you see that subtle play of light suggesting movement of water reflected on to the architecture? Editor: I do. I guess the impressionistic style really lends itself to that sense of atmosphere. It makes me wonder, what was Witsen trying to express about urban life at the turn of the century? Was it about nostalgia or progress, or something else entirely? Curator: Maybe he just found beauty in the everyday. Maybe, walking alongside those canals on the Krom Boomssloot he appreciated the harmony of water, stone and air, deciding on the spot to catch those qualities of daily urban experience with a soft pencil, paper and a confident stroke! Editor: That makes sense! I hadn't considered that simplicity of observation being the key. Curator: And I suppose, as it always does, looking together has made me ponder my own daily experiences in ways I might never have considered! Editor: Absolutely, a newfound appreciation, a gift from Witsen, if you will!