Gezicht op de Krom Boomssloot 71 c. 1906

Willem Witsen captured this view of the Krom Boomssloot using etching techniques. The window, a dominant symbol here, transcends its function as a mere opening. It is a portal, laden with symbolic weight. Since the Renaissance, windows in art have served as thresholds between inner worlds and outer realities. Think of Renaissance paintings where a window often frames a distant landscape, connecting the subject's immediate space with broader, often idealized, vistas. In Dutch Golden Age paintings, the window often alludes to domesticity, morality, and introspection, inviting the viewer to peer into the private lives and moral considerations of the subjects. Here, the window’s reflection hints at the world outside, yet it mostly reflects back the interior, symbolizing introspection. This creates a space for the viewer to project their own emotions, memories, and experiences. It is a stage where the drama of life is both veiled and revealed, engaging us on a subconscious level.