Montelbaanstoren bij nacht 1870 - 1923

Editor: Here we have Willem Witsen's charcoal and pencil drawing, "Montelbaanstoren bij nacht," placing us somewhere between 1870 and 1923. The first word that springs to mind is 'atmospheric'. It’s so subtle; the tower looms, but the details are lost to the gloom. What do you see in this piece? Curator: You know, 'atmospheric' is spot on! It’s more than just a depiction; it's a mood captured. The blurred lines, the gentle gradations of dark, it speaks to a Romantic sensibility, a real feeling for the sublime mystery of the urban night. Do you feel that the dark enhances the importance of the few light spots dotted about the artwork? It's all feeling here, less about rigid accuracy, right? It invites you to lose yourself, just like the Amsterdamers walking home after dark at the time it was made. Editor: Absolutely, I can see how the mood overrides sharp realism. Those little sparks of light feel incredibly deliberate against the murky backdrop. Given that it's made with charcoal, does the choice of material play a part in all of this? Curator: Oh, without a doubt! Charcoal has this wonderful ability to create incredibly soft, almost ethereal effects. With the strokes blurred as they are, one might even dare to say the effect makes one imagine what smoke would feel like in the air. Think of it as a fleeting memory or the ephemeral nature of a dream captured in charcoal dust. Don’t you just love the way he leaves some sections seemingly unfinished as well? It reminds us to look closer at what is really going on within ourselves, our inner self which only comes to the forefront at night. Editor: I never thought of charcoal that way, more as a building material. That certainly changes my appreciation. Curator: Precisely! Seeing becomes feeling. What a lovely mood to go away with, don't you think? Editor: Definitely, and that personal connection you draw between artist and viewer makes all the difference. Thanks!