Gebouw op palen, deels aan het water 1906 - 1907

Editor: So, this is Willem Witsen's "Gebouw op palen, deels aan het water" – or, "Building on piles, partly on the water" – made with pen around 1906-1907. It’s currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It's really raw, almost like a snapshot from a personal sketchbook. What do you see in it? Curator: Ah, Witsen. He captures a fleeting moment, doesn't he? To me, it's like catching a half-remembered dream of a waterside dwelling. The loose penwork… it reminds me of a jazz riff – spontaneous, immediate. It's impressionistic, yes, but also intensely personal. You can almost feel him squinting against the Dutch light, trying to pin down the essence of the place before it disappears. Tell me, does that resonate with you? Editor: Absolutely. The lack of detail kind of forces you to fill in the blanks, creating your own version of the scene. It definitely feels more about capturing an impression than depicting reality. Curator: Exactly. Think about the context: late 19th, early 20th century. Artists were breaking away from rigid academic traditions, exploring subjectivity and the ephemeral. This sketch is a little rebellion in ink! The “incomplete sketchy” feel lends an accessibility too, it welcomes you into the artist’s process…makes you wonder about his state of mind as he furiously sketches! Editor: It’s cool to think of it as a visual diary entry. A glimpse into the artist’s world! Curator: Precisely. It's not about flawless execution; it's about capturing a feeling, a moment in time. And those sketchy lines? They hint at the constant flux of water, the impermanence of everything around us. It leaves you pondering, doesn’t it? Editor: It does! It’s amazing how much can be communicated with so little. I see this piece so differently now, thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Art’s about the journey, isn’t it? And sometimes, the sketchiest journeys are the most rewarding.