Willem Witsen artwork • painting • for sale The Montelbaanstoren on the Oude Schans in summer

To Willem Witsen, the Montelbaanstoren was a loyal neighbor: diagonally across the street, at nr. 5 Oude Schans, in 1887 he rented the former studio of his painter friend G.H. Breitner. From this spot Witsen had a magnificent view of the tower. The move to this studio marked the moment when Witsen devoted himself to the tranquil cityscape, the theme with which his name is connected. Amsterdam, the city where he was born, studied art and lived most of his life, was a source of inspiration for Witsen. The Montelbaanstoren was therefore a popular subject, which was repeated throughout his career in his work, in various styles and shapes. Here Witsen painted the tower 'truncated', as he originally saw it from his first studio. The cut composition could also be explained by his interest in photography. Like his good friend Breitner, he was a skilled photographer.