Studie 1901 - 1907

Willem Witsen created this 'Studie', or 'Study', and it’s now here at the Rijksmuseum. It's so light, so airy, almost like a blank canvas – which is never truly blank, is it? It's got this pale, buttery color that makes me think of early morning light. I imagine Witsen, brush in hand, trying to capture something fleeting. Was he struggling, trying to find the right tone, the perfect balance? Did he get stuck, decide to leave it, and then come back to it months later? I like to think about all the indecision and decision that goes into these things. You can see the texture, the thin layers of paint. It's not overworked; it's got a freshness to it. That little smudge in the corner – I love that! It feels so human, so imperfect. I'm always inspired by artists who aren't afraid to leave things open, unresolved. It reminds me that painting is a conversation, an ongoing dialogue with the medium, with ourselves, with the world. And it’s a conversation that never really ends.