Willem Witsen, Oude Waal, Amsterdam - Antique Etching

Name: Willem Witsen, Oude Waal, Amsterdam - Antique Etching
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA919933
Availability: SoldOut

1900 - 1920

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This charming early 20th-century etching by Dutch artist Willem Witsen (1860-1923) depicts a canalside scene on the Oude Waal in Amsterdam. He studied this view from a moored ‘studio boat’.

Here we see several figures caught in perpetuity while undertaking everyday activities. A boy carries a hoop, two women watch the world go by from concrete steps, an older gentleman waits in a doorway. At number 78, a hand-written sign indicates that this is a laundrette run by the Veltkamp sisters. While at number 82, we see ‘Slijterij Veenhoven’, a liquor store.

Witsen painted, and drew, several versions of Oude Waal including an oil painting, which appeared at Christie’s in 2016. There’s also an interesting study at the Rijksmuseum.

Today, the architectural facade looks broadly the same but the building numbers are different - refer to 32-34 Oude Waal on Google Maps. Note too that the view has been reversed when the etching was pressed. In reality, the buildings are switched around.

Signed in pencil lower right and framed. Limited edition of 100 etchings.

Learn more about Willem Witsen in our directory.

Medium: Etching on paper

Overall size: 27” x 21” / 68cm x 54cm

Year of creation: 1912

Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.

Artist’s auction highlight: £48,488 achieved for a drawing in 2017 and £1,842 for etchings.

Physical Dimensions

Height

54cm (21.26")

Width

68cm (26.77")

Depth

2cm (0.79")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA919933

Description

This charming early 20th-century etching by Dutch artist Willem Witsen (1860-1923) depicts a canalside scene on the Oude Waal in Amsterdam. He studied this view from a moored ‘studio boat’.

Here we see several figures caught in perpetuity while undertaking everyday activities.

“

A boy carries a hoop, two women watch the world go by from concrete steps, an older gentleman waits in a doorway.

Brave Fine Art

At number 78, a hand-written sign indicates that this is a laundrette run by the Veltkamp sisters. While at number 82, we see ‘Slijterij Veenhoven’, a liquor store.

fig 1. Willem Witsen, Oude Waal, Amsterdam - Antique Etching

Witsen painted, and drew, several versions of Oude Waal including an oil painting, which appeared at Christie’s in 2016. There’s also an interesting study at the Rijksmuseum.

Today, the architectural facade looks broadly the same but the building numbers are different - refer to 32-34 Oude Waal on Google Maps. Note too that the view has been reversed when the etching was pressed. In reality, the buildings are switched around.